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Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday launched its official song for the 2019 Cricket World Cup titled ‘Warak Wati Dewarak Nagi Siti Sinhayan Api’. The song is geared towards rallying the country behind the team with the essence of ‘One Team, One Nation’.
The heartfelt song, which eschews traditional high tempo Sri Lankan beats in favour of more operatic crescendos, is centred 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 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,” stated an SLC release.
Commenting on the song, Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports Harin Fernando 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, SLC President Shammi Silva 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, neighbourhood, school, field and beach in our country, and has touched and shaped the lives of so many people. It is this undying love and fervour 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 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 World Cup against New Zealand in Cardiff on 1 June. The tournament will take place from 30 May to 14 July.
