Dialog powers Sri Lanka’s National Cricket Team

Sri Lanka’s Mobile Telecom Market Leader Dialog Axiata PLC., announced recently the commencement of a three-year partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as the sponsor of Sri Lanka’s National Cricket Team.

The National Team sponsorship title encompasses both men’s and women’s national cricket teams across all forms of the game spanning test, one-day and T20 played in Sri Lanka and overseas.

Dialog, voted by Sri Lankan consumers as the ‘Telecom Services Provider of the Year’ for the second year in succession at the SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Choice Awards, takes on the mantle of powering Cricket, the national sporting passion of Sri Lankans with effect from 1 June 2013.

“It is with great pride that we commence this flagship partnership with SLC as the sponsor of the National Cricket Teams,” Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya said speaking on the occasion of the sponsorship announcement.

“Our nation has honoured us with the opportunity of connecting over 7.8 million Sri Lankan citizens and millions of homes and enterprises with our portfolio of mobile, broadband, fixed line and digital television services, and it is a singular privilege to join our customers and fellow Sri Lankans in their passion for Cricket and the quest for continued excellence on the international arena,” he added.

The announcement of the partnership between Dialog and SLC was followed by the symbolic hand over of the new playing livery featuring the Dialog brand to Sri Lanka Captain Angelo Mathews. The Dialog brand features high among Sri Lanka’s most valuable brands and has associated with it a string of national and international recognition, most significant among being the mantle of being the country’s most loved telecommunications brand.    

SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa said: “Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to see Dialog, one of the nation’s most committed Sponsors of national sports, coming forward to support us as the National Team Sponsor. I have no doubt that Dialog’s partnership with Sri Lanka cricket will herald yet another era of success for the men’s and women’s national cricket teams, and we look forward to working together with Dialog to foster pride and excellence in the game of cricket among Sri Lankans from all provinces of the country.” Dialog last sponsored the National Cricket Team in 2009. The Sri Lankan Cricket Team currently holds a No. 1 ranking in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T-20 ratings and has the distinction of winning the ICC World Cup in 1996, in addition to being featured in two World Cup finals over the past six years.

SLC has produced many of the world’s cricketing greats of recent times including Muttiah Muralidaran, Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene being named Wisden Cricketers of the year.  The partnership agreement between Dialog and SLC follows closely on the National Team’s departure for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in the United Kingdom, followed by a tour of the West Indies. SLC Honorary Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said: “The next few years will see development of the game at all levels in the country and feeding into the betterment of the game at the National level.”

“The dedication and the efforts that will be required from the players as well as the administrators in ensuring we retain our mantle of world class opposition in the cricketing arena, is undoubtedly vast. With plans afoot to develop infrastructure as well as the overall framework of the game as it is played in today’s context, the involvement of a committed sponsor will stand SLC in good stead and ensure that we are able to foster and promote the game to the fullest across all strata of society, encompassing all regions of the nation, as befits the pride of place cricket holds in the hearts and minds of all Sri Lankans.”

Over the years, Dialog has built a solid reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most committed and consistent sports sponsors. In 2012, Dialog took over mantle of being the sponsor of Sri Lanka’s Rugby Team which powered its way to become winners of the A5N (Asian Five Nations) tournament.

Dialog’s commitment to Rugby extends to the Inter-Club League, Clifford Cup and 7’s tournaments as part of the company’s support for the developmental programme of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU).  The company’s support for popular and inclusive sports and associated national tournaments has been both prolific and far reaching.  Dialog has powered the Nation’s premier volleyball tournament the Presidents Gold Cup featuring 400 games each year for the past eight years in succession, and the Football premier league for the past eight years.  Dialog has also been the power behind the National Disabled Games since 2001 and has the distinction of having supported the national contingent to the 2008 Olympics as well as to the Paralympics Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008.