Revenues of the group, which includes a pay TV unit, were down to 8.44 billion rupees from 8.8 billion rupees in the same quarter last year.

Last year's line was re-stated because the way revenue was recognized from TV subscribers was changed in 2008, the company said.

At company level, core mobile revenues were down to 7.77 billion rupees from 8.22 billion rupees, though officials have said that subscribers were still growing.

"This suggests that the on-going price war has resulted in a decline in average revenue per user," says Channa Amaratunga, from CT Capital.

The company said 255.7 million rupees had been allocated for the quarter as costs for a voluntary retirement scheme. At group level it was 277.8 million rupees.

Finance costs for the quarter was up sharply to 799 million rupees from 100 million rupees.

"With accelerated currency depreciations, the company's funding cost on its foreign currency denominated loans is also rising," Amaratunga said.

The company had borrowings of 20.7 billion rupees for the period against 8.8 billion rupees last year.

Dialog said it had also received a 37.5 million dollars short term loan from TM International for telecom expansion and launch of for fixed wireless telephone and pay TV services during the period.

Capital expenditure had been reduced to 3.0 billion rupees from 6.9 billion rupees last year.