The start of 2016, saw the increased participation in young creative minds converging to represent the future of Sri Lanka and its inventive genius at the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies (4As) – ‘Young Lotus’ competition held on 03 February 2016 at the 80 Club, Colombo.
This year’s competition attracted an astounding 45 teams in comparison to previous years. Each team consisted of a Copywriter and Art Director. All teams competed for the coveted title of ‘Sri Lanka’s Best Creative Young Team’. Participants of this full-day competition from large and medium agencies a-like, vied for the opportunity to represent the island-nation of Sri Lanka at Adfest 2016 in Pattaya, Thailand.
President of the 4As – Sheron Jayasundara, commented “I am delighted to see the increased participation at this year’s programme. Our intent is to train and polish young creative minds, providing exposure in developing effective concepts which will see them compete regionally and globally”. The 4A’s felicitated the Young Lotus winners for 2016 at a follow-up, evening Award Ceremony held on 25 February 2016 at the Lighthouse Galley, Colombo.
Adfest, one of the most preferred creative events in the Advertising industry calendar in the Asia Pacific region, supports tomorrow’s industry leaders with the opportunity to network and learn from the preeminent creative fore-runners in the industry.
This year’s competition saw Amanda Aluvihare & Ijaz A. Sahlan from JWT Sri Lanka, taking up the baton as the winning pair that delivered a passionate, inspired, novel campaign tailored to fit this year’s challenge.
The panel of judges, consisting of Sri Lanka’s prominent creative names in the industry included Ruchi Sharma (Jury Chair), Lalindra Nanayakara, Dileepa Abeyasekera, Suminda Gamage, Johan Latif, Soruban Sivapatham, Ranil Nalawansa, Aman Ashraff, Dinesh Perera and Dilshard Ahamad.
The winning duo will have the opportunity to travel to Thailand in March 2016 to represent Sri Lanka at the Young Lotus Creative Workshop competing against their counterparts from the Asia Pacific Region. After which, they will be given the opportunity to sit in an intimate knowledge, innovation and industry experience sharing sessions.
Joint Runners-Up for the competition were Aruna Fernando & Chinthaka Jayawickrama from JWT Sri Lanka and Shyan Gershon & Sohan Ratnaike from TBWA /TAL.
Third and fourth places were taken by Ravindra Laksiru & Shehan Samarasinha from Triad and Fazie M. Mohamed & Dilakshi Wijesinghe from Reap Digital.
The 4A’s will continue to power tomorrow’s creative minds – forging a future for Sri Lanka in the creative play books that will be sealed in history.
PHOTO CAPTION – (From left) seated at head table; Treasurer, 4As – Selonica Nalawansa, Director, 4As – Dharshi Thambiah, President, 4As – Sheron Jayasundara and Vice President, 4As – Sarva Amarasekare.
(Standing) Master of Ceremonies; Board Director, 4As – Adrian Fernandez.
Group picture, (standing) winners with runner’s up of the 4As Young Lotus competition
(seated) Members of the organizing committee of the 4As Young Lotus competition.