In a bold move to democratise access to world-class advertising and marketing knowledge, DEFY, Sri Lanka’s youngest independent ad agency, is hosting a two-day creative festival featuring some of the most influential names in the region — entirely free of charge.
DEFY FEST, taking place on May 29 and 30, 2025, aims to raise the bar for marketing and advertising standards in Sri Lanka by offering ADFEST or Spikes Asia-level workshops, talks, and masterclasses to professionals and students alike. The event will be held across two prominent venues in Colombo: Bishop’s College Auditorium and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute.
The lineup features a formidable roster of regional leaders:
Each will deliver tailored sessions to inspire, educate, and energise the next generation of Sri Lankan communicators. Their presence,typically reserved for premium-ticket regional festivals, underscores DEFY FEST’s commitment to accessibility and excellence.
“Access to cutting-edge thinking and training shouldn’t be limited to the few who can afford it,” said Dilshara Jayamanna, CEO of DEFY and a 20-year veteran of Sri Lanka’s advertising industry. “We created DEFY FEST to bring global-standard learning home, without the price tag. It’s an investment in the future of our industry.”
The event is supported by a growing list of local champions. Revello and Zesta have come on board as Gold Sponsors, while food brand Nutrifix joins as Bronze Sponsor. The Daily FT serves as the official print media partner, reinforcing the festival’s positioning as a credible, industry-shaping initiative.
While the festival is free, access is carefully curated. Invitations have been extended to agency leaders, marketing heads, and student coordinators across selected institutions. Students and professionals who have not received a formal invite can apply to join the waitlist via defyfest.lk. Confirmations for waitlisted delegates will begin rolling out after May 20th.
The initiative comes at a critical moment for Sri Lanka’s creative industry, which continues to grapple with talent shortages and brain drain in the aftermath of the country’s economic turbulence. By making top-tier knowledge more accessible, DEFY hopes to ignite a new wave of creative confidence and professional resilience.
As regional borders blur and brands demand more agile, future-ready thinking, DEFY FEST positions Sri Lanka not as a passive recipient of knowledge, but as an active participant in shaping Asia’s creative dialogue.
