Driving or riding on Sri Lankan roads has never been easy. We woke up late today and as usual missed the bread delivery man (who rides his bicycle down Kassapa road at around 6:30 AM). So around 9:30 AM I rode my bike (freshly equipped with new rear shock-absorbers) to Sen-Saal on Thimbirigasyaya Road (which is less than a mile from our home). I picked up a few items for breakfast and was happy as usual about the service that I have now come to expect at Sen-Saal (great job guys - keep up the good work!).

It was on my way back home that I encountered the driver of a Beige-ish Gold Nissan Sunny (WP KA 9707). I had just taken a left turn on to Jawatte road from Thimbirigasyaya road. Jawatte road slopes down a few degrees at this point just opposite the Church of the Good Shepherd. The person driving the Nissan was overtaking the other traffic and he was on the wrong side of the road (which was the side of the road I was supposed to travel on). I moved as much to the left of the road as I could (people drive on the left of the road in Sri Lanka) and managed to avoid a head-on collision, while our friend in the Nissan kept on going as if nothing was amiss, without even the slightest nod of the head to indicate he was apologetic for the inconvenience caused.

My first reaction was to check if the driver of the Nissan was a member of the armed forces and one of the many VIP convoys that drive at break-neck speeds throughout the city of Colombo without much regard for any road rules and often for the safety of other users of the road as well. However, I didn't notice any of the typical tell-tale signs of a convoy. So I presumed this was just one other bad Sri Lankan driver who lacked the discipline to wait his turn in the line.

I got off easily - there was no accident and my nerves held through the episode. However, I was sufficiently annoyed that I felt I had to write up this blog entry. Not the way I wanted to start off my Saturday. If you are a bad Sri Lankan driver and you happen to read this blog please consider changing your ways! Think win-win. Reckless driving does in the end cause more trouble than it is worth. If you are or know the driver of the Nissan - I forgive you because I am already forgiven by the blood of Jesus!