This happened way back when there were only CTB buses plying on our roads.

One fine day, a bus driver went to the depot, started his bus, and drove off along the route. As there were no ticket vending machines in Sri Lankan buses, there is another person in the bus, called the 'conductor' of the bus, whose duty is to issue tickets to the passengers and collect the fare.

No problems for the first few stops-a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At the next stop, however, 'Thadi Piya', a big hulk of a guy got on. Well over six feet, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the conductor and said, "Thadi Piya doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

Did I mention that the conductor was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Thadi Piya, but he wasn't happy about it.

The next day the same thing happened-Thadi Piya got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the one after that, and so forth.

This grated on the bus conductor, who started losing sleep over the way Thadi Piya was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of the course, it was a crash course of 6 months, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.

So on the next Monday, when Thadi Piya once again got on the bus and said, "Thadi Piya doesn't pay!," the conductor stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?" With a surprised look on his face, Thadi Piya replied, "Thadi Piya has a bus pass."