SLIM and Mastercard forge strategic collaboration to elevate Sri Lankan brands on global stage

The Mastercard and SLIM leadership teams officially unveil their partnership for the 2025 Brand Excellence Awards, paving the way for a new era of strategic brand thinking, technology-led enablement, and national business impact

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) has announced a strategic collaboration with Mastercard, a technology leader in the global payments industry. This association marks a bold step forward in supporting Sri Lanka’s business ecosystem through brand and payment innovation. By combining the credibility and influence of SLIM Brand Excellence with Mastercard’s technological leadership, this collaboration aims to unlock new levels of value for enterprises across sectors.

Recognised among the country’s most prestigious platforms for celebrating marketing excellence, SLIM Brand Excellence has a rich history of honouring Sri Lanka’s most impactful brands and supporting innovation and economic transformation.

Talking about the collaboration, SLIM President Prof. Dewasiri N. Jayantha said: “Brand Excellence is more than an awards ceremony – it is a national platform that encourages strategic brand thinking across industries. With Mastercard joining as a key partner, we are reinforcing our mission to elevate Sri Lankan brands to global standards, while supporting economic transformation through brand leadership.”

Sharing a similar sentiment, SLIM Vice President – Events and Sustainability Enoch Perera said: “Collaborating with Mastercard brings added momentum to SLIM Brand Excellence as we prepare to honour Sri Lanka’s most transformative brands this year. This association reflects our intent to keep evolving and aligning with partners who share our belief in long-term value creation and responsible business growth.”

As businesses face growing pressure to deliver meaningful customer engagement while navigating economic uncertainty, this collaboration underscores the importance of synergy between brand building and technology-led enablement. It signals a new era where branding is not just about image, but about how businesses interact, transact, and build trust in a digital-first world.

Highlighting the impact of the association, SLIM Senior Vice President – Education and Research Dr. Dilhan Sampath Jayatilleke said: “This association also opens up new knowledge pathways for the industry. At SLIM, we believe in empowering marketers with not just recognition, but insight. With Mastercard, we aim to bring data, research, and global best practices closer to Sri Lankan brand custodians.”

Echoing similar thoughts, Project Chair Kaushala Amarasekara said: “This partnership further enhances the stature of Brand Excellence by associating with a globally respected brand like Mastercard. It is a strong endorsement of the trust that SLIM Brand Excellence has built over the years within the corporate and marketing community.”

Together, the SLIM and Mastercard will work on empowering Sri Lankan businesses with the tools, insights, and platforms they need to thrive and lead in a competitive global marketplace.

Explaining the significance of collaborating with Mastercard, SLIM CEO Chamil Wickramasinghe said: “At SLIM, we consistently seek to elevate our platforms through collaboration with forward-thinking partners. Mastercard’s involvement adds strategic value, credibility, and international perspective to Brand Excellence 2025 as we continue to support the growth of resilient, competitive Sri Lankan brands.”

Reiterating Mastercard’s commitment to driving innovation to support economic growth, Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda said: “Mastercard is excited to collaborate with SLIM Brand Excellence, a platform that has consistently celebrated Sri Lanka’s most inspiring brands. This association reflects Mastercard’s larger objective to drive innovation and empower businesses through meaningful brand and payment experiences. By combining Mastercard’s global technology leadership with SLIM’s deep-rooted influence in the marketing community, this collaboration aims to unlock new value for enterprises and help them thrive in an increasingly digital and competitive economy.”