Sri Lankan Sojourn - Prologue

Being nominated to go to Sri Lanka to take part in the FutureGov SAARC Summit 2012 (held in Colombo on July 18-19) brought in mixed reactions within me.  I was elated that I was going to an International Summit where 14 Countries were participating (7 countries apart from the SAARC zone).  That was an honour.  But, going to Sri Lanka of all places?  All other colleagues were getting nominated to go to more popular, European, American or Pacific nations while I was just going next door.  I cursed my luck and felt cheated too – my mind playing the spoilsport as ever in even the moment of pride.  It reminded me of previous such disappoints too (like, missing out on Lebanon assignment and being shunted to Bhutan instead; it was another matter that I fell in love with Bhutan).

My presentation was on what I’m currently associated with – Aadhaar, the Project that aims to provide a Unique Identity to every Indian resident.  It took me a lot of effort to even take a stab at preparing the slides.  In the meantime the organizers even called in and requested if I’d be fine in sitting on a discussion panel on financial inclusion.  I agreed to it as I head the processes of Financial Inclusion and Authentication (Application Development and Operations).  I wasn’t certain if I did the right thing by agreeing to be on the panel.  Other panellists were eminent (and much senior) people – a Director General from Pakistan, a senior Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Rural Development, India and Chairman of a successful banking group in Sri Lanka.  I was certain I’d make a fool out of myself.

I barely managed to cobble together a presentation and sent across to Richard (Richard Pain, from FutureGov, the Organiser of the event, was my contact for all details, arrangements and we had lengthy conversations over the phone and multitudes of mail exchange) as the entire office was plagued by one crisis after another just before my trip.  A field study that was planned was going haywire and there were frantic VCs, conference phone calls late in the night, weekend working – apart from heartburn, disappointment, frustration, anger, accusations and counter-accusations as the problems refused to abate.  Amidst all this I had to get my Official/Diplomatic Passport done, travel to Delhi to get my gratis Visa – I requested if I could use my ordinary passport and the answer was in the negative (had they said yes, I could’ve obtained ETA online and saved on my trip to Delhi both in terms of time and money).  My tickets were another issue of concern.  I decided to fly via Chennai at the last moment so I could reach Colombo early.  Travelling from Bangalore would’ve meant I’d reach my hotel past midnight.  And, I wasn’t able to fit into any of my suits (all of them were from a time when I knew what fitness was).  On top of all this I developed a frozen shoulder.  My friends even advised me not to carry (my rather bulky DSLR) camera.  I didn't see a doctor as I didn't want to be on medication.

My flights (Bangalore-Chennai-Colombo) were eventless.  Short-haul international flights offer just beer (only if you ask, that too) and a bad snack (potato puff).  And, Chennai airport possibly is the worst of all the airports I’ve seen so far.  I arrived in Colombo ahead of time, breezed through the immigration people and walked into a car that was waiting for me.

In about an hour (exceeding expectations and warnings from my Sri Lankan friends) I reached the Cinnamon Grand, the venue of the Summit and also the hotel I was staying.  A sprawling hotel complex with its own multilevel shopping mall and apartment blocks. I had arrived.