Sri Lanka Cricket, under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports and Hon. Minister Harin Fernando – Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports, launched “Warak Wati Dewarak Nagi Siti Sinhayan Api”, a song to rally the country behind the team with the essence of ‘ONE TEAM ONE NATION’ as they prepare to participate in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Wales. The song will be made available for download and all of the proceeds from this song will be donated to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks through a dedicated fund.
The heartfelt song is centered on the theme of unity and calls on Sri Lankans from all walks of life, to come together as one to support the national team, as they represent the country on the global cricketing stage. With music and vocals by popular artist Sanka Dineth and lyrics by Wasantha Moragoda, the song is also a celebration of the entire country’s unwavering love for the game of cricket.
In a multicultural and diverse nation, which is home to people from different ethnicities and religions, cricket remains the single unifying factor that brings all 21 million Sri Lankans together, giving them a common ground and shared sense of understanding.
Commenting on the song, Hon. Harin Fernando – Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports stated: “We look forward to our team representing our country at the ICC World Cup. I would like to wish each of our players, as well as our coaches and support staff, all the very best as they participate in this all-important tournament. This song, which Sri Lanka Cricket has launched will give our players the reassurance that their entire homeland is behind them and cheering them on. We also hope that at a time, when the country needs to stand together as one more than ever, that this song will remind us of our shared interests, common passions, and the things that unite us over those that divide us.”
Also commenting on the desired impact of the song, Shammi Silva – President of Sri Lanka Cricket said: “Every Sri Lankan is extremely proud of our team and has grown up with the game in some capacity. It has been played in nearly every street, neighborhood, school, field and beach in our country and has touched and shaped the lives of so many people. It is this undying love and fervor for the game, and this powerful unifying feeling that served as the inspiration and very essence of “‘ONE TEAM ONE NATION’” The song is more than just a call to rally around the national team, it is a reminder of how cricket is one of the nation’s greatest passions and in good times and bad, the game has the power to transcend all boundaries, bridge divides and truly connect people.”
He added: “Sri Lanka Cricket with the continuous support of the Ministry of Sports and our stakeholders and partners, is proud to have launched an iconic song of this nature, which we hope will give the national cricket team a boost in morale and enable them to shine and perform at their very best at the ICC World Cup. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Minister Harin Fernando for his ongoing efforts to support initiatives such as this and we are truly grateful for his commitment towards nurturing and uplifting the game of cricket across the island.”
The Sri Lanka Cricket team will play their first match in the ICC World Cup Tournament, vs. New Zealand on 01st June. The tournament will take place from 30th May – 14th July and 10 teams will come together to compete for the coveted championship trophy and title.