Sri Lanka’s marketing, media, communications and digital industries received a strong regional spotlight this year, with three Sri Lankan professionals being recognised in Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 40 Under 40 2026 list.
The annual list celebrates emerging leaders across Asia-Pacific who are shaping the future of marketing, media, technology and communications. For Sri Lanka, the recognition of Arjun Jeger, Praveena Perera and Raveen Wijayatilake is more than an individual achievement. It is a reminder that local talent, built through resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, can compete on a regional stage.
At a time when Sri Lanka’s industry is looking for new confidence, these three names represent different but equally important directions for the future: independent creative entrepreneurship, client leadership in integrated communications, and the growth of gaming and esports as a serious marketing platform.
Arjun Jeger: Building an Independent Creative Network from Sri Lanka
Arjun Jeger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DC Group, represents the new generation of Sri Lankan agency entrepreneurs.
His story stands out because DC Group was not built through a traditional agency model or major external investment. It began as Digital Content in 2017 and has since evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s largest independent creative networks, with multiple specialist companies across creative, production, influencer marketing, performance media, martech, media and live experiences.
What makes Arjun’s recognition important is the model he represents. He has shown that a Sri Lankan agency can be independent, specialist-led, platform-first and still scalable. DC Group’s growth through some of the country’s most difficult years also reflects a wider truth about Sri Lanka’s creative industry: the best teams here are often built under pressure, not comfort.
His recognition is also important for the local digital marketing ecosystem. As President of the Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka, Arjun has been part of efforts to connect Sri Lankan professionals with wider regional and global industry conversations. That kind of ecosystem-building matters, because individual success becomes more meaningful when it opens doors for others.
Praveena Perera: A Win for Client Leadership and Women in Advertising
Praveena Perera, Associate Vice President and Client Services Director at MullenLowe Sri Lanka, brings another important dimension to this recognition.
Client servicing is often one of the most demanding roles in advertising. It requires strategic thinking, relationship management, creative judgement, commercial understanding and the ability to bring different teams together around a business problem. Praveena’s recognition highlights the value of strong client leadership in an industry that often celebrates only creative output or media performance.
Her journey is also significant for women in Sri Lanka’s advertising and communications industry. She has previously been recognised as an emerging woman leader, and this regional recognition further strengthens the message that women in Sri Lankan advertising are not just participating in the industry; they are leading it.
In a market where opportunities can sometimes feel limited, Praveena’s achievement also reflects the importance of organisations that actively create space for talent to grow. Her recognition is a proud moment not only for MullenLowe Sri Lanka, but also for every young professional in client servicing who is building a career through consistency, resilience and strategic contribution.
Raveen Wijayatilake: Taking Gaming and Esports into the Marketing Mainstream
Raveen Wijayatilake, Founder and CEO of InGame Esports and Gamer.LK, represents one of the most future-facing areas of marketing: gaming and esports.
For many years, gaming was treated as a niche youth interest. Today, it is a major cultural and commercial space, with communities, tournaments, creators, brands and media opportunities all converging. Raveen has played a key role in building that ecosystem in Sri Lanka and extending its relevance across South Asia.
His recognition is especially important because it validates gaming and esports as more than entertainment. It positions them as credible platforms for brand engagement, youth culture, digital communities and new forms of media experience.
For Sri Lankan marketers, this should be a wake-up call. The next generation of influence will not only come from television, outdoor, social media or traditional digital advertising. It will also come from gaming communities, live experiences, creator-led ecosystems and interactive entertainment. Raveen’s inclusion in Campaign Asia’s list shows that Sri Lanka already has leaders shaping that space.
Why This Matters for Sri Lanka
The recognition of Arjun, Praveena and Raveen is important because they do not all come from the same type of role. One is building an independent creative group. One is leading client relationships and integrated brand communications. One is shaping gaming and esports as a marketing platform.
Together, they show that Sri Lanka’s marketing industry is no longer defined by one narrow path. The future of the industry will be built by entrepreneurs, strategists, client leaders, creators, technologists, community builders and platform specialists.
It also shows that Sri Lanka does not need to wait for international validation to believe in its own talent. But when that validation comes, it gives the industry a timely reminder: we have people here who can lead regionally, not just locally.
A Signal for the Next Generation
For young Sri Lankan professionals entering marketing, advertising, media, PR, digital or communications, this recognition sends a powerful message.
You do not need to follow one fixed career route. You can build a company, grow inside an agency, develop a new media category, lead clients, create communities or shape an industry association. What matters is the quality of your work, the impact you create and the consistency with which you keep moving forward.
Sri Lanka’s presence in Campaign Asia’s 40 Under 40 2026 list should therefore be celebrated not only as three personal milestones, but as a signal of where the industry can go next.
Arjun Jeger, Praveena Perera and Raveen Wijayatilake have each built influence in different ways. Together, they represent a more confident, diverse and future-ready Sri Lankan marketing industry.
And that is something the whole industry can be proud of.
