Melbourne Walauwa’s World Cup launch
There’s a buzz going around Australia at the moment that one of the hottest prospects to win the World Cup Cricket tournament to be staged next year in Australia and New Zealand is the in-form Sri Lankans who are currently riding the crest of a wave.
Former Sri Lankan cricket stars with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Recent performances in the shorter version of the game firmly suggests that the plucky islanders could well be in the reckoning to stake their claim to an elusive trophy which slipped from their grasp at the last two World Cups in Mumbai and the West Indies. Despite the lack of finish, Sri Lanka remains the most feared opponent in the limited overs format of the game and have proved time and time again that they are, and will always be, a force to be reckoned with.
In keeping with this belief and the fact that there is such a huge fan base for Sri Lanka here in Australia and even New Zealand, the ICC have thrown their support behind the islanders fan base in a bid to extract maximum gate takings by allowing the tournament’s ultimate prize, The World Cup to be presented at select Sri Lanka functions in its endeavour to generate plenty of interest.
Cricket Australia have also been party to the venture by encouraging involvement by a selection of representatives from the Multicultural Team working for the ICC, Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia – New Zealand .
Dav Whatmore adressing the gathering
The Walauwa, a popular Sri Lankan reception centre in Noble Park, was the venue for a meet all and tell all function which drew over 200 eager World Cup followers who thronged the venue to meet former Sri Lankan stars, officials from the ICC, Cricket Australia and representatives from the Sri Lankan High Commission, with the centre piece being the ability to see and take photographs with cricket’s biggest prize.
Among the guests was Sri Lanka’s former coach Australian Dav Whatmore who engineered an unlikely Sri Lankan win in 1996 over Australia in Lahore, Pakistan. Whatmore had an ally in Asanka Gurusinghe, who was one of those instrumental in that famous Sri Lankan success, who attended the function with his wife. There was a distinct feeling in the air that Whatmore may have a role to play in Sri Lanka’s next campaign after an 18-year lapse. He took on roles as national coach of countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan since quitting the Sri Lankan job. His local knowledge will no doubt be invaluable to the Sri Lankans.
The function was sold out in 24 hours and over 200 guests attended the historic occasion. There was a Government representation from Victoria, Tasmanian Govt, Tasmanian tourism, Diplomat’s from the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra, Consul General
ICC Officials , Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria Officials , former CWC 1996 winning Coach Dav Whatmore, former Sri Lanka Cricketers,
A Sri Lankan Papare Band entertaining the crowd
guests from Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Tasmania, Yarra Valley, FTGDCA, and DDCA Associations. The event was primarily aimed to maximize attendance at Sri Lanka’s only Melbourne encounter against Bangladesh, while encouraging fans to travel to Tasmania and interstate to maintain the friendly rivalry between opposing fans and giving it the colour and excitement it is known for.
The Walauwa underlined its importance as a top function facility for Sri Lanka events and although in its infancy, handled the expectations of the organisers with aplomb thanks to the energetic effort of its CEO Mano Ratnayake, partners Nash and Shehan and their hard working team.
The event attracted Sri Lanka’s media networks both in Australia and Sri Lanka among them Melbourne’s Channel 31 Good Morning Sri Lanka, Aus News Lanka, The Island, Pahana Australia, Lanka Times Australia, The Sunday Observer and Sports n News (SNNI). National Operations Manager for the Multicultural team Johann Jayasinghe, thanked the whole team behind the CWC 2015 function, Replay 6 the No 1 Sri Lanka Band in Australia, Melbourne’s Papare Band the Icon of the Sri Lanka Fan Zones, Dances from the Mandy dancing Academy, and the Sri Lankan Cultural Dances for their input into the event.
Among the former Sri Lankan cricketers who were present at the function were Asanka Gurusinghe, Ravi Ratnayake, Thilan Samaraweera, Granville De Silva, Saliya Ahangama and Dulip Samaraweera.