Dialog Axiata completes acquisition of Airtel Lanka; begins amalgamation

Conclusion of the share sale transaction (from left): Dialog Axiata Group Company Secretary Viranthi Attygalle, General Counsel/ Vice President – Group Legal and Regulatory Trinesh Fernando, Chief Financial Officer (Acting) Yap Wai Yip, Director/Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO/Managing Director Ashish Chandra, Assistant Vice President – Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Development Ravi Jain, Director/Chief Financial Officer Pankaj Garg and Dialog Axiata Group Chief Commercial Officer Munesh David 

Dialog Axiata PLC, Axiata Group Berhad and Bharti Airtel Ltd., have successfully completed the share sale transaction, with Dialog acquiring 100% of the issued shares in Bharti Airtel Lanka Ltd., through a share swap. 

Post this share swap, Axiata holds 73.75% of Dialog while Bharti Airtel will own 10.355% and the remaining 15.895% of shares are held by the public. Dialog aims to amalgamate Airtel Lanka under the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, with Dialog remaining as the amalgamated entity. 

This consolidation, first announced in May 2023, represents a significant milestone in the telecommunications industry in Sri Lanka, bringing together the strengths and expertise of two leading companies, poised to deliver a world-class digital telco experience that will contribute significantly to the growth of the country’s digital ecosystem and economy.

Post-merger, Dialog and Airtel brands will continue to serve their respective customers, while the two networks will begin consolidation aimed at delivering exceptional value and superior connectivity solutions to consumers and enterprises.

Dialog Axiata PLC Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe said: “This milestone marks the conclusion of the acquisition of Airtel Lanka, and we warmly welcome the Airtel team and all three million subscribers on the Airtel network to the Dialog family. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), the Board of Investment (BOI), the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Axiata and Bharti Airtel teams and all other stakeholders for their invaluable support in bringing this transaction to fruition.” 

“As we embark on this transformative journey, our focus will be on leveraging the combined strengths of Dialog and Airtel to pioneer advancements in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications sector. This merger positions us to drive substantial growth, not just in customer experience and innovation, but also in contributing to the digital economy of Sri Lanka. This strategic move underscores our commitment to setting new benchmarks in connectivity and empowering businesses and individuals alike to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” Weerasinghe added.