The devoted Sri Lankan fans have adorned their houses and neighborhoods with the national flag while cutouts and posters of the Sri Lankan players beamed from the billboards.
Reportedly institutions and businesses in addition to the public are also making arrangements to hoist the National Flag in every area considering tomorrow as a day of significance to the nation.
The country will come to a grinding halt on Saturday as all Sri Lankans in the country as well as the expatriates in other countries will glue to the television to watch the significant event.
Sri Lanka, called as the underdogs by the media will take on the favorites India tomorrow at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai at 2:30 p.m. local time in an all-Asian World Cup Final.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, VIPs and other fortunate fans have already left for India to watch the final.
Prime Minister Jayaratne expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will clinch the coveted cup while Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has requested all Sri Lankans to come together irrespective of any differences to give courage and strength to the Sri Lankan Cricket team.
General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Minister Maithripala Sirisena has made a special statement urging the people to extend their blessings for a victory to the team.
Religious leaders of all faiths invoked blessings to the Sri Lankan cricket team today for their success tomorrow. A Buddhist religious ceremony was held in Vidyalankara Pirivena this morning by Venerable Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera. Hindu religious observances were held by Shivasri Vaitheeswar Kurukkal of the Hindu priest organization while Rev. Father Sarath Hettiarachchi conducted catholic masses. Maulavi of the Davatagaha Mosque Seiyath Hassan Maulana carried out Islamic prayers.
Sri Lanka Postal Department will issue four stamps as a tribute to the Sri Lankan Cricketers who brought honour and glory to the country despite the final outcome tomorrow.
The government has issued special instructions to supply uninterrupted power tomorrow in the country and the Ministry of Power and Energy has assured that all relevant sectors had been ordered to make all preparations to supply power continuously without any interruption.
Sri Lanka led by Kumar Sangakkara is hoping to repeat the Arjuna Rantunga's feat in 1996 and bring home the Cup while Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men are looking to secure the Cup that eluded them for 28 years.
Sri Lanka team however has been hit with injuries. Sri Lanka's all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the match due to injuries he suffered during the semi-final against New Zealand. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv has been confirmed to take Mathews' place in the final.
Sri Lanka's master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is singing his swan song on a remarkable career, is also under an injury watch suffering from hamstring and knee injuries although the Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss said Thursday Murali was determined to take the field in his last international match.
Victory for Sri Lanka, as Sangakkara hopes will be a great motivation for a new generation of cricketers.
"We've come through a tough period. People have lain down their lives for our country," addressing the media Sangakkara said yesterday.
"In this new future we hope to bring back the world cup to give the people (of Sri Lanka) reason for celebration." Indeed it will be.
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