The people of Sri Lanka are naturally joyful. The typical individual on the street found reasons to smile like a million bucks, even during the height of the Civil War, which devastated the teardrop island for decades. The people of Sri Lanka are also extremely proud of their rich cultural past, as well as their city, province, country, and street. There won't be much rubbish laying around, and you won't hear many angry honks, even in busy traffic. Even though language can be a huge barrier, drivers will patiently wait for pedestrians to cross the street, and they will go out of their way to help strangers and foreigners.

With the export of tea, coffee, and spices driving its economy, Sri Lanka thrives on its abundant natural resources, but tourism is the single largest contributor to the national coffers. As the Civil War reached its peak, the hospitality sector suffered greatly, but Sri Lanka is now again a popular travel destination because of its stunning natural beauty and the many historical sites that attract thousands of visitors each year.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Colombo in particular and Sri Lanka as a whole prepared for a great celebration on February 15 when India and Pakistan were scheduled to face off at the R Premadasa Stadium. Due to political constraints, it is not possible for these two neighbors to play each other in their backyards. For obvious reasons, Dubai and Colombo have become viable alternatives, and there was a noticeable buzz in this region of the world after the International Cricket Council revealed the schedule for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The desire to consume this product is so strong that cricket enthusiasts who are prepared to spend more money consider traveling half the world for three and a half hours of exquisitely packaged entertainment and sports. In Australia, Indian fans traveled from as far away as Rio de Janeiro to attend the high-profile match at the storied MCG four and a half years ago. In New York, hundreds of Indians took advantage of the World Cup to get a taste of the Big Apple.

There was a rush for match tickets, airline tickets, and lodging because, of course, Colombo isn't as far away for the average Indian as Melbourne or New York. For the locals, business is business, and they saw a chance to earn a respectable living, if not a fortune. Some even suggested that a stadium larger than Premadasa (35,000) should be considered, considering the improbability of India and Pakistan reconciling anytime soon.

Pakistan's decision to boycott the Indian match was put on hold on February 1st, as match tickets were being grabbed and hotels were overflowing with rooms that typically cost $150 USD. It was devastating to many, including the tournament, the authority that oversees the sport, and Sri Lanka's massive hospitality sector. It makes sense that individuals planning to fly would go into cancellation mode in an effort to reduce their losses. Even though the large hotel chains didn't suffer much because of their clever and stringent cancellation policies, rooms suddenly became available for pennies.

When Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva formally urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to reevaluate their boycott stances, it became clear how much Sri Lanka feared the worst. In a letter to the PCB, Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva noted that Pakistan's selective participation would have an immediate effect on the Sri Lankan board and could have far-reaching repercussions, such as significant financial losses and wider economic repercussions. The letter said that security, neutrality, and professionalism would be of the greatest caliber and that it anticipated "the same spirit of reciprocity to prevail," reflecting on the long-standing partnership between SLC and PCB that was founded on mutual respect.

Demand hasn't exactly responded as expected to Pakistan's February 8 turnaround because of a combination of disillusionment and exorbitant costs that have sapped the will of the would-be travel enthusiast. Over the past six days, airfares have increased; a return ticket from New Delhi to Colombo cost Rs 1.18 lakh, which is higher than the usual Rs 30,000. The cost of a weekend trip from Chennai to Colombo to Chennai is a cool Rs 54,475.

It has still to be determined if the Premadasa would be overflowing. The Premadasa will be as new to Pakistan in this tournament as Suryakumar Yadav's team is, as they have been in Sri Lanka for almost two weeks, yet both of their Group A matches have taken place at the SSC grounds. A day before an India-Pakistan World Cup match, there is usually a lot of activity and excitement, but that will probably change on Sunday as this legendary rivalry begins a new chapter.