Sri Lanka bans laundry near WCup venue

Colombo, Feb 6 (AFP) Sri Lanka has banned people fromhanging their washing out to dry near a cricket ground inColombo where World Cup games will be played, a news reportsaid today.

Residents and shop owners around the R Premadasa Stadium,which will host seven matches, were issued the orders byColombo city authorities this week, the island''s Sunday Timesnewspaper said.

"These include abstaining from hanging out clothes fordrying in public view, putting out garbage on the roadsidesand engaging in street games such as hopscotch and cricketmatches," the paper said.

The 35,000-seater Premadasa stadium, which will be thevenue for three Sri Lanka games and one semi-final, issurrounded by low-income housing schemes.

Sri Lanka has spent USD 8 million renovating the groundand has also built two new stadiums in the south and centre ofthe island for the World Cup.

The country, which emerged from decades of ethnic war in2009 with the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, iskeen to promote a clean and efficient image during thetournament.

"Our country will get a lot of exposure from this event.

So we have told the people to take special care during thistime to keep their surroundings neat," Colombo specialcommissioner Omar Kamil told the Sunday Times.

The World Cup, hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,starts on February 19 and ends on April 2. (AFP) SHN