Ogilvy Sri Lanka’s Young Lions contingent has wrapped up its Cannes 2026 run, representing the country across the Media, PR, and Film categories at one of the world’s most competitive showcases of young creative talent.

The six-member Ogilvy team formed the largest ever single agency contingent from Sri Lanka at the competition, earning their place on the global stage following wins at the national Young Lions competition held earlier this year.

Competing alongside top under-30 creatives from across the world, the Ogilvy Sri Lanka teams took on high-intensity, real-world briefs, developing fully realised campaign ideas within tightly defined timeframes.Each category demanded a distinct creative approach, reflecting the breadth of capabilities required in today’s communications landscape.

Held alongside the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Young Lions Competition remains a globally recognised proving ground for the next generation of creative talent, bringing together emerging voices from around the world in a shared arena of ideas, innovation and impact.

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Naviyn Wickrema and Devseth Fernando secured their place on the global stage after emerging as Sri Lanka’s Young Lions champions in the Print category, outperforming teams from some of the country’s leading advertising and creative agencies.

Their victory marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s growing creative sector and highlights the emergence of a new generation of talent capable of competing at the highest international level.

At just 24 years old, Devseth has already earned recognition as a rising creative professional, while 20 year old Naviyn has demonstrated exceptional innovation, strategic thinking and creative maturity beyond his years. Together, they represent a new wave of Sri Lankan talent challenging traditional industry boundaries and proving that world class ideas can emerge from any corner of the globe.

Widely regarded as the pinnacle of the global creative calendar, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity brings together the world’s leading minds in advertising, communications, marketing, design and innovation. The Young Lions Competition, often described as the “Olympics of the advertising industry”, provides emerging creatives with the opportunity to compete against the best young talent from around the world under intense time constraints and creative pressure.

Commenting on the achievement, Ranil de Silva, Managing Partner of Metal Factor, praised the accomplishment and the significance of the victory for Sri Lanka’s creative industry.

“It is inspiring to see a young team from a relatively new player in the industry being crowned Sri Lanka’s Young Lions champions in the Print category. This achievement demonstrates the depth of talent within our creative community. I sincerely hope Devseth and Naviyn continue their success and excel in Cannes. I would also like to commend Flipit Media for investing in young talent and creating an environment where creativity can flourish. This achievement is a proud moment for both the winning team and the organisation,” he said.

The success of the duo is also a testament to the commitment shown by Flipit Media in nurturing emerging talent and providing opportunities for young professionals to develop their skills and gain international exposure.

Industry observers note that Sri Lanka’s creative sector has continued to gain recognition on the global stage in recent years, with local agencies and professionals increasingly competing alongside established international players. The selection of Naviyn and Devseth to represent the country at Cannes further reinforces the potential of Sri Lankan creativity and innovation in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

As they prepare to compete in France, the pair will carry not only the aspirations of their agency but also the pride of a nation eager to showcase its creativity, ingenuity and talent to the world.

Their journey to Cannes serves as a powerful reminder that Sri Lankan creativity belongs on the global stage and that the country’s next generation of creative leaders is ready to compete with the very best.

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