Etisalat, a new entrant into the Sri Lankan mobile communications sector with its recent acquisition of the local operations of Tigo, a brand of Luxemburg's Millicom; the local operation of UAE-based Etisalat recently signed the co-sponsorship of the highly-lauded Kandy Sports Club rugby team.

The company's signing of a four-year co-sponsorship deal with Kandy signals an ever-increasing involvement with local sports which to date has also included school cricket, squash, golf and even chess. Further, Etisalat's co-sponsorship of Kandy also makes possible the club's current tour of Dubai and South Africa, the latter which will feature training by legendary rugby world cup winning captain François Pienaar and wing three quarter Brian Habana. Also noteworthy was last year’s signing of a global sponsorship deal between world-famous football club Barcelona and Etisalat.