Three young advertising & marketing professionals for Adfest 2013

Representing the local advertising industry, copy writer Sailesh Gunasekera, from Response Marketing, and art director Shehan Rodrigo, from Grant McCann Erickson, along with Nuwan Rathnayaka, from Keells Food Products PLC, were adjudged the respective winners of this year's Young Lotus and Young Marketer competitions. They will take wing for Pattaya, Thailand, to take part in regional advertising gala, Adfest 2013. Taking place from March 17-19, 2013, Adfest 2013 is a gathering of industry professionals from the Asian region, as well as Australia, where industry professionals meet and share creative know-how and experiences.

Organised by the 4As, Young Lotus 2013 was held for the eighth consecutive year. Young Marketer however was staged for the very first time and saw the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) partnering the 4As in a successful joint effort.

Commenting on these two competitions, Chalaka Gajabahu, President of the 4As, said: "These proved to be keenly contested competitions, with the winners going on to participate in Adfest workshops, alongside other similarly talented young people from across the region." He was also of the opinion that the expertise imparted by world class advertising gurus at these workshops would be of immense value to the winners.

Mr. Gunasekera and Mr. Rodrigo were adjudged winners of the eighth Young Lotus Sri Lanka creative competition, which was sponsored by Keells Food Products PLC. The competition was judged by a five member panel comprising eminent industry personalities Russel Miranda, Executive Creative Director at Grant McCann Erickson; Subhash Pinnapola, Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.; Dilshara Jayamanne, Executive Creative Director at LOWE LDB; Rajiv Wirasinha, Partner and Creative Director of Heensare; and Aveen Pathirage, Brand Manager for Keells Sausages, Keells Food Products PLC.