MullenLowe’s Harendra Uyanage awarded inaugural Next Generation Leader Scholarship to Cannes Lions

Monday, 9 June 2025 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Metal Factor Founder Ranil de Silva (left) congratulates Harendra Uyanage on being named recipient of Metal Factor’s Next Generation Leader Scholarship

At a special ceremony held in Colombo recently, MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Director Harendra Uyanage, was named the first-ever recipient of the Next Generation Leader scholarship.

For the first time in ad industry history, Metal Factor, as the organising body, initiated a scholarship to honour the late ad stalwart Yong Lye Peng, to be extended to a next-generation leader of the industry from any field in the business to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2025.

The recipient of Metal Factor’s Next Generation Leader Scholarship was selected through a careful adjudication process led by a distinguished panel comprising Metal Factor Founder Ranil de Silva, Sysco LABS Director – Brand and Communications Gian de Rose, Capital Maharaja Group Group Director Chevaan Daniel, TBWA\ Sri Lanka Managing Director Renuka Marshall, and Singer Sri Lanka PLC Director, Marketing Janmesh Paul Antony .

The primary purpose of this scholarship is to provide future industry leaders exposure to the global industry and to bring back the learning and play a leading role to drive the industry in Sri Lanka forward. The attendee will have full access to all activities, workshops and courtesies, mentoring programs, and other such learning initiatives.

“My heartfelt congratulations to Harendra of MullenLowe on being selected as the first-ever Next Gen Leader to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. This scholarship was created to give emerging creative leaders the chance to experience global standards firsthand, something I believe is essential if Sri Lanka is to make its mark internationally. I trust Harendra will return inspired, ready to push boundaries and strive for a Golden Lion while contributing meaningfully to the growth of Sri Lanka’s creative industry. My sincere thanks to Mr. Douglas Khoo for establishing the fund that made this possible, in memory of his late wife and my dear friend, Yong Lye Peng,” said Metal Factor Founding Partner Ranil de Silva.

MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Executive Chairman Thayalan Bartlett, “Harendra is Sri Lanka’s most talented and one of the most awarded Creative Leaders of our time. He has contributed immensely to MullenLowe’s undisputed creative standing in the local industry and has been an inspiration to youngsters for his work ethic, creativity, professionalism and integrity, I am both delighted and excited for him for having been selected by Metal Factor’s – Next-Generation Leader program as its first scholarship recipient.”

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