Colombo, April 2025 – The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) successfully concluded the Cannes Young Lions 2025 – Sri Lankan Marketers’ Competition on 19th March at the SLIM Business School, Colombo. The highly anticipated event brought together the country’s brightest young marketers for a high-intensity, real-time creative challenge that tested their strategic thinking and execution under pressure.
Emerging as national champions were Nethmi Edirisinghe and Savani Ratnaweera from Nestlé Lanka Ltd, who will proudly represent Sri Lanka at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 in France. Their exceptional performance earned them national recognition and the chance to showcase Sri Lanka’s marketing talent on a world-renowned platform.
This year’s competition was powered by Pan Asia Bank, the official Growth Partner. Their collaboration reflects a deep commitment to nurturing creativity, empowering young professionals, and driving innovation across industries.
Prof. (Dr.) Dewasiri N. Jayantha, President of SLIM, commented, “Empowering young professionals through globally aligned platforms is central to SLIM’s mission. This competition celebrates talent, dedication, and the future of Sri Lankan marketing.”
Mr. Gayan Lakshan Perera, Immediate Past President of SLIM and Jury Member, added, “The Cannes Young Lions is more than a competition—it’s a gateway for young marketers to transform potential into performance and to shine beyond borders.”
The event was evaluated by a panel of esteemed industry professionals, including Ikram Mohideen (Chief Strategy Officer, Shift Integrated), Kaushala Amarasekara (GM – Brand & Communications, HUTCH), Sirimevan Senevirathne (CMO, Pan Asia Bank), and Ransley Burrows (Co-Founder, Seeni Colombo). Special thanks were extended to Ms. Kavi Rajapaksha, representing Metal Factor Sri Lanka, for her integral role in organising the event.
Speaking on the broader impact, Mr. Manthika Ranasinghe, Honorary Secretary of SLIM and Project Chair, remarked, “This is only the beginning. Our aim is to elevate Sri Lanka’s presence globally by continuously providing young talent with meaningful platforms to learn, compete, and lead.”
With continued collaboration from industry partners and the unwavering support of the marketing community, SLIM reaffirms its dedication to nurturing the next generation of creative leaders and expanding Sri Lanka’s global footprint in marketing excellence.
