SHIFT Group is marking its 18th anniversary this year, celebrating nearly two decades of challenging conventions and shaping Sri Lanka’s advertising and digital communications landscape.
Established in 2008 as Sri Lanka’s first independent digital agency, SHIFT began operating at a time when digital marketing was still emerging as a significant part of the advertising industry. From its early days, the agency introduced brands to platforms and technologies including Facebook marketing, Google Ads, 3D mapping, augmented reality and gesture-based interactive experiences.
The Group’s track record of innovation has been accompanied by a growing collection of local and international industry recognitions.
At the age of nine, two of SHIFT’s young creatives represented Sri Lanka at the Cannes Lions Young Lions competition. By its 15th year, the agency had secured the Blue Dragon for Best in Country (Sri Lanka), a Gold Dragon at the Dragons of Asia and an Effie Gold. During the same period, SHIFT also brought the Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards to Sri Lanka for work combining business performance with purpose.
The agency continued its performance on the regional stage in subsequent years, securing Gold and Silver Dragons and receiving three Golds, three Silvers and three Bronzes at the Four A’s Advertising Festival. At 17, it also earned a Gold at the SLIM Digis.
As it reaches 18, SHIFT has added further achievements, including two Silvers, three Bronzes and a Finalist at the Effie Awards 2025, as well as eight wins, including two Golds, at the Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026.
For two consecutive years, SHIFT has also secured recognition in Campaign Brief’s The Work, with its campaigns selected among leading advertising work from Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The agency has also been ranked among the country’s “Hottest Agencies”.
Underlying the Group’s journey is its philosophy of Making Work That Works, which focuses on combining creativity with measurable business impact. SHIFT maintains that effective advertising should not simply attract attention but should also create meaningful value for the brands and audiences involved.
Ikram Mohideen, Chief Strategy Officer of SHIFT Group, said the agency believes advertising has to serve both audiences and businesses. According to him, consumers deserve work that respects their time and connects with real aspects of their lives, while brands need creative work that contributes to business growth.
This approach has influenced a number of SHIFT’s campaigns for major brands. Its work with Cargills has extended across Cargills Food City and the wider corporate brand, with campaigns such as Cargills Heroes and Saru Bima connecting corporate purpose with stories that resonate with audiences.
For Seylan Bank, SHIFT developed a campaign around Sri Lanka’s 75th National Day that encouraged people to sing the National Anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil. The initiative generated national discussion around unity while contributing to the bank’s brand positioning.
The agency has also taken a more emotional approach to tea advertising through its work for Ran Kahata, while JXG’s “We’re Sure You’re Not Aware of Us” campaign turned corporate awareness into a conversation with audiences. For Softlogic Life, the “Dengeez” campaigns brought a fresh creative approach to dengue awareness.
SHIFT Group Founder Sujeewa Samarasekera said the agency’s approach from the beginning had been to explore ideas and approaches that had not previously been attempted in Sri Lanka. He described the 18th anniversary as an important milestone while noting that the organisation had operated with an adult mindset since its early years.
Sandun Lakmal, Managing Partner and Chief Creative Officer of SHIFT Group, said maturity in advertising should be measured through accountability rather than age. He emphasised the importance of creating work capable of both engaging audiences and generating business results.
SHIFT Digital Director and Chief Executive Officer Charitha Waidyaratne noted that the company’s digital-first origins allowed it to evolve alongside Sri Lanka’s growing digital audience. The experience gained through changes in platforms and media consumption, he said, enables the agency to transform creative ideas into measurable outcomes for brands.
SHIFT Group Managing Director Chrishani Kotalawela highlighted the role of long-standing client relationships in the agency’s development. She said many of the Group’s achievements were made possible by clients willing to support unconventional ideas and give the agency the freedom to experiment.
Today, SHIFT Group operates through SHIFT Creative and SHIFT Digital, working with brands across banking, insurance, FMCG, retail and corporate sectors.
After 18 years of challenging established ideas and pursuing creativity with measurable impact, SHIFT Group enters its next chapter with a continued focus on innovation rather than playing it safe.
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