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Sri Lanka's cricketing icon Muttiah Muralitharan enhanced his international reputation further when he signed up a lucrative sponsorship deal with Lanka IOC (Indian Oil Company) to be their brand ambassador at a ceremony held at Taj Samudra on Saturday.

Muralitharan whose image is already being used by his employers Janashakthi and Mobitel for their promotional campaigns said that he was proud to be associated with Lanka IOC and assured them that he would not only endorse their product everywhere, but ensured them that they would have good business in Sri Lanka.

Lanka IOC Ltd managing director M. Nageswaran (L) and Sri Lanka cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan shake hands after the official signing ceremony at Taj Samudra on Saturday.
Pic by Wimal Karunathilaka

Lanka IOC Ltd managing director M. Nageswaran said: "This tie-up between Lanka IOC and Muralitharan effectively brings together two major players in their respective fields, with the hope of working together as a team, to further promote and develop not only the petroleum industry in the country, but also Sri Lanka as a whole."

Having achieved the status that he has in world cricket - being one time holder of the world Test record for the most number of wickets with 532, Lanka IOC started showing interest in Muralitharan after the Asia Cup in July.

Being the most popular Sri Lankan cricketer apart from perhaps Sanath Jayasuriya, Lanka IOC had no qualms of signing up Muralitharan as their brand ambassador. Nageswaran said that Muralitharan and his company would make a winning combination as they were both in the '500' category.

He said as Muralitharan had achieved the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket, so was Lanka IOC which is a Fortune 500 company. He added that they were one of the same kind as they were both household names and on the lips of everybody.

Nageswaran said that Lanka IOC Ltd is a subsidiary of the giant IndiaOil and had continuously contributed to the upliftment of the sports industry.

"Not only is Muralitharan loved and admired in his country of origin, but he is also a much-respected figure the world over," said Nageswaran.

"Having faced and successfully overcome many obstacles in his rise to the top position in the cricketing world, Muralitharan is an example of how strength and determination can conquer any obstacles placed in its way."

"Similarly, ensuring international standards of service and meeting stringent quality and eco-friendly standards, Lanka IOC's operations in Sri Lanka will also uphold those virtues of strength and determination," said Nageswaran.

In India, IOC have signed up Indian Test stars Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh to be their brand ambassadors.