Lanka banks on Indian support to win World Cup

COLOMBO: Apart from flocking temples and churches seeking divine help, Sri Lankan cricket fans are also counting on their billion-strong neighbours India to cheer Mahela Jayawardene's men to victory against Australia in the World Cup finals on Saturday.

Reflecting the regional interest in the finals between Sri Lanka and Australia in the West Indies, a local bank paid for an advertisement headlined 'Imagine a billion people chanting Sri Lanka.'

The bank was particularly proud of the fact that three members of the Sri Lankan World Cup team were employed with them.

"Go Sri Lanka go, the world is your cup," was the punch line on the message.

"The world is feeling our presence again," ran another advertisement. Most of the sponsored messages stressed the unifying effect the Sri Lankan team's performance has had on the conflict-torn nation.

Across the island, religious ceremonies were held in Buddhist and Hindu temples and in Christian churches to invoke blessings on Mahela Jayawardene and his team.

Former cricketers, who were in the champion 1996 team which brought home the World Cup, also attended the services along with family members of the present side.

Fans thronged at the Sri Lankan Cricket Board headquarters in Colombo to record their wishes in a book placed outside the building.

Several private sector companies, meanwhile, are looking to cash in on the pre-match carnival atmosphere by erecting giant screens at indoor and outdoor venues where previous matches have already drawn enthusiastic fans.

President Mahinda Rajapakse has already flown to Barbados for the final match and local media reports said Jayewardene had appreciated his presence there which would inspire the team to play its best and not let the country down.

Unexpected support came from British High Commissioner in Colombo, Dominick Chillcott, and members of his staff who signed a statement wishing the Sri Lankans the best of luck.

"We are hoping for a repeat of the 1996 World Cup final result. Come on you Sri Lankan lions. Let's hear you roar," he said in a statement, which was accompanied with a photograph of Chilcott clad in the Sri Lankan team's blue and yellow T-shirt surrounded by a cheering staff.