Dialog assures SLC’s future
Chris Dhambarage and Sampath Bandara
In a historic event Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday joined hands
with Dialog Telekom who will sponsor the national cricket team for three
major international fixtures commencing this week.
This is the first instance that a national telecommunication company
has come forward to sponsor the Sri Lanka cricket team which also marks
the pinnacle of Dialog’s longstanding relationship with Sri Lanka
sports.
The official signing of the agreement between the SLC and Dialog took
place at a ceremony held the SSC pavilion in Maitland Place yesterday.
The Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge graced the
occasion along with the SLC Competent Authority S. Liyanagama who is
also the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports.
Dialog’s sponsorship of the Sri Lanka team begins with the tour of
Pakistan for a three match one day international series which begins on
Wednesday.
This series will be of great importance for Sri Lanka who are hoping
to improve their position in the International Cricket Council (ICC)
team rankings. The Lankans will move up two places to fifth in the
Championship table if they could make a clean sweep in the series coming
up in Karachi and Lahore.
Mahela Jayawardena’s team currently lies in seventh position
following a
tour of mixed results in Bangladesh. In a tri-series that also
involved
Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka lost one match to the home side but later exacted
revenge in what was a thrilling and closely fought final. Sri Lanka
are now in Karachi for the first one day international on January 20
knowing that a 3 nil result in the series will ensure it leap frogs both
Shoaib Malik’s men and also sixth-placed England. The second major event
for the Sri Lankan team partnered by Dialog will be the home series
against neighbours India where the two teams are expected to play five
one dayers and a Twenty20 international.
This will be followed by a two test series against Pakistan away
before they host Zimbabwe for another five match one day international
series.
The Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Telekom PLC Nushad Perera
said that this partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket is one of the best
examples of Dialog’s commitment to national sports development
especially at the critical stage for both the sport and economy.
He also said that Dialog is a people’s brand just like cricket is the
pride and passion of the Sri Lankan public.
“It is the same vision of empowerment we proffer to Sri Lankan lives
that we extend to the development of the game. Dialog has a long and
proud association with Sri Lankan sports both locally and
internationally and this partnership in particular with the national
team is one that brings immense and pride” Perera added.
Sri Lanka’s flagship telecom network enjoys a longstanding
relationship with Sri Lanka Cricket and Dialog is the official mobile
telekom service provider and also the mobile phone provider for Sri
Lanka Cricket.
The Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge emphasised
the importance of this sponsorship at a stage when the Sri Lankan team
needs a lot of encouragement to perform well.
The Minister also thanked Dialog Telekom for coming forward with a
sponsorship at a period when there is an economic crisis in the World.
Also present at this occasion were Supun Weerasinghe (Chief Executive
Officer Dialog Telekom), Chirantha de Zoysa (Senior Manager Group
Marketing Dialog Telekom), Duleep Mendis (Chief Executive Officer SLC),
Charith Senanayake (Head of Marketing SLC) and Ashley de Silva (Head of
Operations SLC). |