Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) is the apex body for Sri Lankan Marketers, which was founded in 1970 and subsequently incorporated by an act of Parliament in 1980, recognizing it as the National Body for Marketing and a ‘not-for-profit’ organization.

With a strong mandate to uplift the Marketing profession in Sri Lanka, we have over the years positioned and elevated the Marketing profession by conducting many national level events and projects. SLIM is governed by a Council of Management and an Executive Committee headed by a President and comprising of professionals from numerous industries in an honorary capacity. We take pride in organizing national level events which form a pivotal part of the annual corporate calendar.

With the vision of leading the nation’s efforts towards economic prosperity and the mission of establishing Marketing as the driving force to enhance business and national value, SLIM actively promotes Marketing as the driving force which enhances business and national value alike.

SLIM unfolds many important national level events annually such as the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards in recognition of brands on a national level, SLIM – Nielsen People’s Awards with the true representation of the pulse of the people, NASCO (National Sales Congress), making a revolution in the structure and platform of Sales Management in Sri Lanka, Marketing Roks, which prepares the younger generation to face the challenges of the corporate world with greater confidence, dedication and integrity, the Effie Awards, covering the effectiveness of Advertising and ‘Gamata Marketing’, aiming to identify and uplift SMEs’ in the rural areas along with the tool of Marketing in order to enhance the value proposition of their final products and their living standards.

VISION
“TO LEAD THE NATION’S EFFORTS TOWARDS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.”

MISSION
“TO ESTABLISH MARKETING AS THE DRIVING FORCE, WHICH ENHANCES BUSINESS AND NATIONAL VALUE.”

OBJECTIVES
– To contribute within the area of our professional competence, to the economic growth of the country.

– To foster the development, growth and wider acceptance of Marketing as a key management function.
– To provide a professional forum for our membership.
– To advise and assist in the formation, implementation and appraisal of national policies on any matter connected with Marketing, both within Sri Lanka and abroad.
– To suggest and promote legislative action in the sphere of Marketing to serve the best interest of the country.
– To promote, maintain and uphold professional and ethical principles and standards in the practice of Marketing in Sri Lanka.

Organization Structure

Executive Committee 2025-2026

NMA's Contact

# 94, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka.
T: +94 112 675 000
F: +94 112 681 660
E: info@slim.lk
W: www.slim.lk

Annual General Meeting 2025 – A New Chapter of Leadership and Growth

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) successfully held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 on 27th March 2025 at the hotel Marino Beach, Colombo. This milestone event provided an opportunity to reflect on the Institute’s achievements and strategic progress during the 2024–2025 term.

A key highlight of the evening was the official appointment of the new Council of Management and Executive Committee for the presidential year 2025–2026. This leadership transition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, focused on innovation, resilience, and impactful leadership.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor (Dr.) Dewasiri N. Jayantha as the 47th President of SLIM. His extensive experience and visionary approach are set to steer SLIM toward greater success and influence in the marketing profession.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all members, stakeholders and partners for their continued trust and support. Together, we look forward to a year of renewed purpose, meaningful initiatives, and collective growth.

Leading Liyo 2.4 – Leadership Development Programme Certification Ceremony

Empowering conversations, invaluable insights, and inspiring leaders!

The Leading Liyo initiative is aligned with Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) – Gender Equality – with the aim of enhancing the leadership and managerial skills of women in the corporate sector.

This edition of Leading Liyo brought together a remarkable group of women to explore the transformative power of financial acumen in the corporate world. The programme attracted over 100 registrants, and those who successfully completed the 10-week leadership development programme were awarded certificates at a prestigious ceremony held on 21st March 2025 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

The event celebrated the growth, resilience, and leadership potential of women who are driving change and shaping the future of corporate leadership in Sri Lanka.

Launch of the Asia Small Business Federation Sri Lanka Chapter (ASBF – SL)

The Asia Small Business Federation Sri Lanka Chapter (ASBF – SL) was officially launched on 7th February 2025 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).

This landmark occasion marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial journey, strengthening regional collaboration within the Asian small business community and opening new opportunities for local SMEs to thrive on a global stage.

The event was graced by an esteemed lineup of dignitaries Professor Hermawan Kartajaya, Visionary Asian Marketing Guru, Founder and Chairman of the Asia Small Business Federation, Founder President of the Asia Marketing Federation, and Co-author of Marketing 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 alongside Prof. Philip Kotler, Her Excellency Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka, whose presence added distinction and diplomatic depth to the occasion and Professor Mosaddak Ahmed Chowdhury, President of the Asia Small Business Federation (2024–2026), whose leadership is poised to advance small business development across the region.

The launch of ASBF – SL marks a new era of empowerment, innovation, and collaboration for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and small business leaders.

A Landmark Event: Marketing & Technology Workshop with Dr. Hermawan Kartajaya

We were truly honored to host the Marketing & Technology: Humanity Redefined workshop featuring Dr. Hermawan Kartajaya, a globally renowned marketing thought leader and co-founder of the Asia Marketing Federation. It was successfully convened on 7th February 2025 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall – BMICH, Cinema Lounge.

This transformative workshop explored the ever-evolving landscape of marketing in the digital age, emphasizing how technology can enhance human connection, drive innovation, and fuel sustainable business growth.

A highlight of the event was the official launch of Marketing 6.0, Dr. Kartajaya’s groundbreaking book that reimagines the future of marketing in today’s tech-driven world.

Following the workshop, a dynamic panel discussion featured a distinguished lineup of industry experts: Dr. Hermawan Kartajaya – Marketing Guru & Founder of MarkPlus, Inc.; Dr. Ravi Jayawardena – Group CEO, Maliban Biscuits Manufacturers (Pvt) Ltd.; and Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri – Management & Leadership Expert. The session was moderated by Dr. Dilhan Sampath Jayatilleke, SLIM Vice President – Events & Sustainability for 2024–2025.

This milestone event brought together visionary minds and sparked meaningful conversations on the intersection of marketing, technology, and humanity.

International Conference on Marketing Management - ICMM 2025

The 5th International Conference on Marketing Management (ICMM 2025), held on 6th February 2025 at the BMICH Cinema Lounge in Colombo, was a prestigious global gathering of marketing leaders, industry professionals, and academics.

The event was graced by several distinguished guests, including Dr. Hermawan Kartajaya, Founder/Chairman of Asia Small Business Federation (ASBF) and the Asia Marketing Federation (SMF), Ms. Maggie Jones, Director of Qualifications & Partnerships at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CMI) and Her Excellency Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador to Sri Lanka from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. With the support of academic partners such as Emerald Publishing, Emerald India, the University of Westminster, and CIM – The Chartered Institute of Marketing, ICMM 2025 delivered a day of inspiring keynote speeches, engaging discussions on innovative marketing strategies, and invaluable networking opportunities.

The conference successfully fostered collaboration between academia and industry, setting a strong foundation for future advancements in the field of marketing management.

SLIM 54th Annual General Meeting

SLIM 53rd Annual General Meeting

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) elected Mr. Chinthaka Perera as the 45th President in its 53rd year along with the Council of Management and Executive Committee for the year 2023/2024. Immediate Past president Mr. Nuwan Gamage officially stepped down and handed over the reins to Mr. Chinthaka Perera.

Mr. Perera is the Director – Sales of Hemas Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, which is a leading importer and distributor of pharmaceutical, surgical and diagnostics, consumer health and animal health products in Sri Lanka. Hemas Pharmaceuticals is a member of the Hemas Group of Companies, which is one of Sri Lanka’s most respected corporate entities with a history spanning over 70 years. He has over 25 years of experience in Sales and Marketing.

The 53rd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Institute of the Marketing was held on 29th March 2023 at the Kingsbury Hotel Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Launch of SLIM Leading Liyo – Leadership Development Programme Episode 2

SLIM’s ‘Leading Liyo - Leadership Development Programme is an initiative of the sustainability arm of the Institute and it comes under the UN SDG 5: Gender Equality. The initial stage of the programme being a panel discussion, which was the first of its kind of panel discussion in the history of SLIM, started in the year 2020 and continued for two consecutive years and will be continued in future as well. It was an eye opener for the second phase of the ‘Leading Liyo’ initiative. The second stage was an extension of the panel discussion to a ‘Leadership Development Programme’ dedicated specifically to aspiring women leaders. The first episode of the programme was started in 2021 with 50 corporate females.

Considering the high demand for the programme SLIM decided to open Episode 2 of the ‘Leading Liyo - Leadership Development Programme’ for 100 endeavouring women from both private and public sectors to join the programme and be groomed and mentored by a well-qualified Resource Panel representing different fields and industries. The Programme aims at empowering and guiding women leaders to take on corporate leadership roles in their respective fields locally or beyond.

SLIM successfully launched the second episode of the ‘Leading Liyo – Leadership Development Programme’ on 25th August 2022 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Leading Liyo Panel Discussion 2022

Celebrating the cultural, social, economic, and political achievements and contribution of women in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) conducted a panel discussion themed ‘Gender Equality for a Future-Ready Sri Lanka’ under its women empowerment initiative ‘Leading Liyo’ in celebrating the International Women’s Day. In line with the institute’s vision, SLIM embarked on the initiative ‘Leading Liyo’ to accelerate economic participation of women in Sri Lanka, and this is the third consecutive year of this initiative.

Despite many efforts over the years, from education to employment, a significant gender inequality exists that demands continuous attention. Leading Liyo initiative aims to bridge the gender gap in the corporate world and promote gender equality at workplaces. This initiative encourages women to move forward and take on the leadership mantle.

Panel discussion was held on 8th March 2022 at the at the Monarch Imperial, luxury dining and convention center located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

SLIM 52nd Annual General Meeting

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) elected Mr. Nuwan Gamage as the 44th President in its 52nd year along with the Council of Management and Executive Committee for the year 2022/23. Immediate Past president Ms. Thilanka Abeywardena officially stepped down and handed over the reins to Mr. Nuwan Gamage.

Mr. Gamage is the Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Arinma Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Colombo, Sri Lanka and a past Honorary Vice President of SLIM. He has over 20 years of experience in a plethora of fields including infrastructure development, cosmetics, beauty, fashion, and education. He has vast expertise in strategic marketing, brand management, digital marketing, international marketing, corporate communication, and sustainability.

The 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Institute of the Marketing was held on 29th March 2022 at the Kingsbury Hotel Colombo, Sri Lanka.

SLIM DIGIS 2.1

For the third consecutive year we launched the SLIM DIGIS 2.1. This is one of the most highly anticipated digital award ceremonies in the country, where we reward companies that have made great strides in the digital marketing arena in Sri Lanka and have contributed significantly to the digital marketing sector. Despite the challenges faced in terms of restrictions imposed with the pandemic we received a record-breaking 147 entries. This year we have introduced two new award categories which are ‘Best response to COVID-19’ and ‘Best use of Data’ to recognize the efforts taken by Digital Marketing professionals to ensure business continuity and take the Digital Marketing space to the next level.

The event was held on 25th January 2022 at the Monarch Imperial, luxury dining and convention center located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

SLIM NASCO Awards 2021

he National Sales Congress (NASCO) is a premier event in Sri Lanka which aims to recognize the efforts and performance of sales professionals who have conquered the toughest of challenges and displayed immense potential. SLIM NASCO recognizes and rewards the remarkable Sales Professionals of Sri Lanka for their achievements as the only National Sales Awards in the country.

This year SLIM NASCO celebrated its 20th year and for the first time in its history carried out the first round of judging online. SLIM NASCO has evolved over the years, emerging as a prestigious sales awards event in the country and serves as a motivational tool to inspire sales professionals to optimize their skills and enhance their capacity.

The Grand Finale of the 20th edition of the SLIM NASCO was held on 08th February 2022 at the Monarch Imperial, luxury dining and convention center located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

SLIM Brand Excellence 2021

SLIM Brand Excellence 2021 was conducted for the 20th year with a record breaking of 128 entries and 82 brands. This is a prestigious event that rewards and recognizes brands for their performance excellence. The award ceremony was held under the theme “Beyond the Next Frontier” in recognition of the importance of rewarding businesses for their perseverance and strength during these unprecedented times.

The Blueprint and Entry Kit underwent changes in 2021 enhancing the clarity of the terms and conditions of submitting entries making the process simpler for applicants. Over the years SLIM has encouraged and nurtured best practices in branding and elevated local brands to international standards, thereby augmenting the overall image of Sri Lanka’s marketing industry.

With over 500 participants, the event was held on 9th February, 2022 at Monarch Imperial, the luxury dining and convention center located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.