Footloose in Colombo

Like many, I was under the impression that there won’t be too much to do (forget partying) other than work when I was travelling to Sri Lanka to cover the IIFA awards that was recently held in Colombo.

Being quite a party person myself, coupled with being a sort of insomniac, I have to admit that the thought of retiring to bed early everyday was freaking me out. My apprehension was that a country that is just limping out of a bloody war against the LTTE would be all about tight security cover and limited movement, but when I set my foot on the beautiful island nation, I was in for a surprise.

Forget the heavy air because of hundreds and thousands of deaths caused due to war to bring lasting peace, people were celebrating Mahinda Rajapakse’s method of tackling the crisis. People were breathing a sigh of relief. Says Colombo resident Lasitha Gamage, “There was a time when no one could move around freely but now Sri Lankans party till at least 4 am. Women are safe and the tension of bomb blasts and other militant attacks has absolutely died down. This is the Sri Lanka we have to offer to the world now. It’s a world city. It’s a safe, warm and hospitable country.”

Sri Lanka boasts of exciting pubs and discs and you can groove to Footloose and La Bamba coupled with remixed modern rock and pop anthems and live band performances, making it quite a worthwhile place! Plus, the booze is the cheapest there. One mug of drought beer costs you Rs 310 (Rs150 INR) and large vodka costs Rs 410 (Rs 200 INR). And boy, the Sri Lankans can party.

Many boys and girls are stunners with fab faces and some of the girls have great bodies which they are definitely not shy of flaunting.

Beach parties are also a rage with private beaches cordoned off under good police protection where people dance the night away. Again, much like India’s farm- house night-outs, the elite in Sri Lanka too host their villa parties for a select crowd and their partying style is no different from what I have experienced in Pune, Chembur in Mumbai, Sainik Farms or Chhatarpur in New Delhi. I had gone to Sri Lanka with a pre-determined impression but I come back from it with the desire to go back to the emerald island again because I now know that it will not fail to surprise me again.