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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Roar Media is proud to announce that two of its rising creative talents, Verandhi Wadugodapitiya and Ayesha Weerarathne, will represent both Sri Lanka and Roar Media at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025. The duo will compete in the Young Lions Digital Competition, taking place from 14th to 22nd June in Cannes, France.

This marks a milestone moment for Roar Media as it’s the company’s first time sending a team to an international advertising competition, securing a national win on the very first attempt, an achievement that underscores the potency of Sri Lanka’s emerging creative industry.

Verandhi, Senior Creative Associate, and Ayesha, Creative Designer, clinched their spot after winning the local Young Lions Digital category competition, organised by Metal Factor and 4A’s Sri Lanka early this year.

“We’re honestly buzzing to be the first ever team from Roar Media heading to Cannes. It’s crazy and a little surreal to represent Sri Lanka on the global stage,“ said Verandhi. Sharing her personal journey, she added, “I walked into this industry with zero experience. Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned at Roar. Winning this was nothing short of unforgettable.”

Reflecting on the experience, Ayesha remarked, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young creatives like us, to represent not just our company, but our country. Roar Media has been a university of creativity for us, with a leadership team that genuinely champions its people.” She extended gratitude to her superiors Prash Balakrishnan, Vandana Hiranand, Kris Thomas, Jamie Alphonsus, and Mustafa Kassim of Roar Global for their unwavering support.

The duo’s award-winning campaign at the local contest, ‘FasterThanFake’, was a timely response to the issue of misinformation. The concept turned fake news busting into a gamified, voter-education tool. “Fake news spreads fast, but what if we could be faster?” explained Verandhi. The idea rewarded users for spotting misinformation online, combining interactive learning with practical civic engagement.

Ayesha elaborated, “We focused on a visual-first approach – clear illustrations and interactive design made the learning process engaging and accessible. Verandhi played a crucial role in concept development, which made my job bringing it to life visually much easier.”

The team further commended the insights gained during training sessions organised by 4A’s Sri Lanka ahead of the international competition, where industry veterans impressed the importance of bold, brave ideas rooted in human-truth to the contestants.

This year’s Young Lions competition also carries additional significance, as Sri Lanka fields an all-female delegation across categories for the first time, a powerful testimony on the country’s evolving creative landscape.

Roar Media is honoured to stand alongside these talented professionals, flying the flag for both the company and Sri Lanka on one of the most influential creative stages in the world.

Roar Media 

Roar Media is a full-fledged content production studio under the Roar Global group, specialising in creating compelling, high-impact content and creative concepts tailored for today’s dynamic, platform-driven audiences.

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