Sri Lankans ride past cutouts promoting the ICC Cricket World Cup in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. -AP Photo

COLOMBO: An aura of festivity has gripped the entire country as hosts Sri Lanka play their first match of the ICC World Cup against Canada in the coastal town of Hambantota on Sunday. Passionate love for the game in the local population is visible all around the country with luminously decorated streets littered with huge size cut-outs and portraits of cricket players representing fourteen participating nations.

Sri Lanka is hosting twelve matches of the World Cup at the venues located in Colombo, Kandy and newly established international cricket centre of Hambantota, some 200 kilometres south of the capital.

To add colour and fervour in holding the mega event, the corporate sector of the island has also come in a big way. From fast food chains to reputed financial institutions and to hotel and travel industry, cricket related incentive packages and merchandise are being offered at attractive prices. “De Ghuma Key”

The theme song of the World Cup titled which in itself a passionate expression of fierce competition among the competing nations also composed in Sinhalese language has proved to be as a big hit.

Sri Lankan government officials, attached with the ICC in managing the affairs of the event, said on Saturday, “The whole nation is presently thriving on cricket.

“This reflects the formidable sprit of the people who have survived many hardships in recent years but their love for the game was never in question.”

Meanwhile, cricket fans and the Sri Lankan media have regretted the decision of security officials of banning musical instruments among other items inside the venues.

They questioned the right of anybody to deny cricket fans the freedom of expression and their love for cricket through music.

Security officials on Friday had announced the ban on use of alcohol, musical instruments and carrying sharp instruments, glass bottles, firecrackers and smoke-bombs inside the stadiums.