Hairy tale

By Shane Seneviratne

A veterinary surgeon who had come from Myanmar accompanying two elephants to be donated to the Dalada Maligawa paid through his head when he was charged Rs. 1,000 for a haircut at a wayside saloon in Kandy town.

“The vet paid the money, but used his head to suspect foul play,” Headquaters Inspector Anuruddha Bandaranayaka said. The vet made a complaint but asked to spare the barber, the inspector said. “He wanted to convey the message that tourists should not be undercut.”

But the inspector summoned the barber to the Police station and severely warned him. The barber was asked to take only Rs. 100 for the haircut and return the balance. He did accordingly and also apologized to the vet.