Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, has been recognised in Campaign Asia-Pacific’s inaugural 50 Over Fifty 2026 list, becoming the only Sri Lankan named among a select group of senior marketing, media and communications professionals from across the region.

Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 50 Over Fifty highlights experienced industry figures whose continued impact, entrepreneurial drive, mentorship and governance are shaping the next era of the communications industry.

The 2026 list features 37 individuals across 11 Asia-Pacific markets, with Thayalan’s inclusion placing him alongside some of the region’s most respected figures, including Lulu Raghavan, President, APAC, Landor; Gabor Koska, Executive Vice President, Head of Data x Intelligence APAC, Edelman; Geoff Clarke, Managing Director – Business Transformation, Omnicom Media Australia; Nick Seckold, Regional Vice President, Microsoft Advertising; and Amanda Palenski, Managing Director, PHD Media.

Over more than three decades, Thayalan has played a defining role in Sri Lanka’s marketing communications industry, with leadership across creative, media, strategy, digital and integrated business transformation. As Executive Chairman of MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, he has helped evolve the agency into a multi-vertical communications group built around creativity, commercial discipline, data, technology and human insight.

His leadership has also been significant through periods of national and industry volatility, including the pandemic, Sri Lanka’s sovereign debt crisis and wider economic disruption. Campaign Asia-Pacific’s profile highlights his role in keeping MullenLowe Sri Lanka growing through turbulence, while building institutions, teams and capabilities designed for long-term strength.

Thayalan has also remained committed to mentoring emerging leadership and building cultures grounded in accountability, ambition and entrepreneurial thinking. His recognition comes at a time when artificial intelligence, shifting consumer behaviour and platform disruption are redefining the communications landscape, reinforcing the value of experienced leadership with the ability to adapt, guide and build for the future.

Created to challenge the industry’s long-standing fixation on youth, the Campaign Asia-Pacific 50 Over Fifty initiative celebrates leaders who continue to shape the future of marketing, communications and creativity beyond the age of fifty, recognising individuals whose experience, resilience and continued innovation are redefining leadership in a rapidly evolving industry.

For the full list, visit campaign50over50.com/#winners

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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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