Nearly 400 cricket loving members of Rotary Clubs from seven nations, number descended on Colombo to share a week of camaraderie, friendship and International fellowship and to play cricket in an easy and friendly atmosphere August 12 and 18.
Rotarians and their families from England, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand participated in a week long extravaganza on a common platform provided by the Rotarians of the host nation and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
India was represented by a contingent of 145 members with as many as 68 were from Bangalore alone. Being residents of 'namma Bengaluru', known for friendliness, courteousness and hospitality, the guests from far lost no time in blending themselves with Bangaloreans.
Sixteen teams participated in a two session game of 25 overs each in five picturesque grounds for 6 days. While the motto was “winners all”, for statistical purpose the Bangalore team led by Rajgopal came out unbeaten in all their essays.
With pride and a deep sense of patriotism the Indians celebrated the 60 years of Independence. Dressed in colourful national costumes, celebrations began on the August 14 evening itself on the golden sandy beach of Colombo with patriotic songs renting the air amidst the international visitors who joined in the fervour which continued well past midnight.
The High commissioner of India in Sri Lanka invited them to join the flag hoisting ceremony on the lawns of his official residence. There was much joy and pride in celebrating India’s Independence Day with some 800 plus visitors from India, who were in Colombo on business or pleasure, congregating on the lawns of the High commission.
This festival of cricket is held once in two years under the aegis of International Fellowship of Cricket loving Rotarians (IFCR) which started during 1992 at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. Since then five world festivals of cricket have been organised hosted by different countries including one in India during 1999 in Chennai.
The sixth festival will be hosted by South Africa in Durban during September 2009.

(Rotary Club of Bangalore, IFCR representative for Karnataka.)