In Sri Lanka everybody is waiting, what for nobody is clear. The killings go on in the north and the east and with each day, much to the sardonic delight of the Sinhalese gentry, the IPKF finds itself sinking into a deeper quagmire. The killings and arson are kept up also in the south. Such being the situation, what can the poor elite of Colombo do? They have somehow to amuse themselves, they flock to the New Year ball parties and keep visiting Vilasita Bipani, the ravishingly dazzling luxury departmental stores.