Ayubowan reads the greeting at the Colombo airport, welcoming you to the island nation in the traditional Sinhalese way. As you loiter along the aisles of the airport, past the duty-free shops, an imposing Buddha statue sits beatifically, giving you an inkling of the cultural richness that is about to unfold. Driving away from the airport, the country surprises you with its striking resemblance to India. Take in the huge publicity hoardings of Chennai Express and Madras Cafe and the signboards in Tamil and you may be excused for thinking you are in Chennai. But give it some time and the distinct character of the city grows on you.
