In April 2022, two outstanding young marketers Samaridu Vitharana and Minidu Alles from Nestle Lanka were selected to face off against the best young creative talent from around the world at the biggest international awards festival for the creative and marketing communications industry. The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing also announced that they will be sponsoring fifty per cent of the international participation fee further solidifying their contribution towards strengthening the next generation of marketers in the country.
The latest edition of the national competition saw 20 vibrant teams go head-to-head at the Arcade Independence Square, Colombo; with the highest number of participants ever to be recorded. The participants pulled through a full day’s session, complete with an inspiring session from SLIM Project Chair Kavi Rajapaksha, followed by the day’s brief. The teams were given the day to compile an insightful presentation to a panel of eminent judges after 5 pm on the same day.
Sharing his thoughts on the local competition and the winners SLIM President Nuwan Gamage stated that “It was heartwarming to see the highest ever participation as the host of this year’s Cannes Young Lions Marketer competition in partnership with Metal factor. It is an indication that the next generation of marketers is actively looking for global exposure to benchmark themselves to propel Sri Lanka marketing to the next level.”
Metal Factor Chair representative Selonica Perumal said, “this opportunity enables the new generation of marketers to better understand current challenges and create work that thrives on insights, to drive the marketing industry of Sri Lanka forward”.
The winning team competed against global contenders, along with the opportunity to showcase their ideas, out-of-the-box thinking, skills and talent; embodying creativity at its finest.