Roar Media to represent SL at Cannes Lions Int’l Festival of Creativity

Roar Media announced that two of its rising creative talents, Senior Creative Associate Verandhi Wadugodapitiya and Creative Designer Ayesha Weerarathne, would 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 until June 22, 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 and Ayesha 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. 

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.”

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.”