SriLanka Telecom Chairman Anil Obesekara handing over the sponsorship package to Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeewan Kumaranathunga. SLT Chief Executive Officer Shuhei Anan (left) and National Olympic Committee SriLanka Marketing and Sponsorship Committee Chairman Nalin Attygale were also present. Pic. by Nihal Chandrakumara.

The 10th South Asian Games sponsored by SriLanka Telecom will be held in Colombo commencing August 17th to 27th 2006.

SLT has handed over Rs.50 million sponsorship package to Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeewan Kumaranathunga to organise the sponsorship.

According to the Minister, the estimated expenditure for the SAG is about Rs.900 million and Rs.600 million would be provided by the Treasury. "The rest would be collected from the sponsors and we are happy that SLT has come forward to assist us as our principal sponsor," Minister said.

According to the SLT Chief Executive Officer Shuhei Anan, SLT would contribute telecommunication and IT services to assist the Games apart from the financial assistance. "Our technology will be useful to organizers and media to record and collate pre and post games from eight different venues to beam the results worldwide on 24 hour basis," he said.

In addition to that special link will be made available on SLT Website which would provide the daily highlights and information of the Games and souvenirs of the event can be purchased online.

SLT Chairman Anil Obesekara said that SLT which has an annual turnover of Rs.30 billion sponsors the event as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work.

"This would be a great occasion to bring business and sports together into one platform," he said.