YES Academy launches Y Awards

Hashan Haputhanthri’s practical Branding Academy – YES Academy launched its first Y Awards at a charming ceremony. The ceremony was graced by Ceylon Pencil Company Ltd. (who markets Atlas premier stationary brand) CEO Nuwan Wimalana, Wolfandale Street Author Nadee Wasalamudaliarachi and Mrs Sri Lanka International/Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights/President International Women’s Conference Chandi Delwala.

YES Academy’s Y awards is comprised with, Marketing Veterans Awards, Best copy award, Best Brand Manager award, and Brand Entrepreneur award. The ceremony started after paying respect to the Late Legendary Upali Mahanama. 

Sashindra Umega was awarded as the Best Brand Manager and the veteran actor Sanjaya Leelarathna won the Best Copy for Atlas Pens.

YES Academy also awarded Sri Lanka’s 1st Marketing Veterans awards to Asoka De Lanerolle, Lalith De Mel and Santi De Lanerolle. 

Kavindu Helanka won the Best Brand Entrepreneur award while others were certified as Brand Entrepreneurs. 

Speaking to press Hashan Haputhanthri said, “This is a great moment in my life. Awarding practical people in branding was a target that I achieved. Sri Lankan brand and marketing education need to be practical. Just because an institute has a practical assignment, a student never became a practitioner unless trainers coach them rigorously to be practical. I am proud to see that my students are as the best among the rest. They are coached through a system where they will expose to the practical side of Marketing, Branding, Finance and Sales. Also, awarding marketing veterans is another mile stone that YES Academy achieved. It is the first time in Sri Lanka an Academy did this and I can say not a single Institute that teaches marketing has ever done this. I am quite sure they will copy me soon.” 

Speaking further he said, “My journey of producing practical brand entrepreneurs has just begun. What I believe is an “Interest” drives passion. “Passion” drives you to victory. “Victories” makes you a Legend. My tagline also Passion, Guts and Victory. This is what I learned when I saw one of my ideas winning an award back in 1998. 

The idea was to shave the Santa for J.L. Morison’s – Morning Pride shaving cream; where Grants advertising agency won an award at SLIM Bell awards. Then, Maliban Gold Marie winning a Bell Award in 2004 proved my strengths. Then, Maliban wining People’s awards twice in 2011 and 2012 and Turnaround brand of the year Gold for my own creation Maliban Smart Cream Cracker brand re-proved my practical approach. I will never stop – until Sri Lankan youths winning the world for me. The victories that I have achieved show my passion for branding in this country. Many can comment – but it is not the talk, but how to walk the talk what makes you a legend.” 

Hashan Haputhanthri (Msc Marketing), a veteren for branding, marketing, business turnaround specialist and human transformation coach) is the General Manager – Marketing for STAR Holdings International, Sri Lanka’s emerging force for detergent powder, detergent bars and dishwash. He mastered the launch of RAZOR International – the internal advertising agency for Start Holdings. Hashan is the author of Asia’s 1st Brand Philosophy TRAVIS BRANDSOLOGY and Co-Author for nine international books. He is in the Advisory Boards of three International agencies for marketing and branding. Also he was the Head of Marketing for TVS Lanka where TVS won Brand of the year 2016 with 3 Gold awards and 2 Silver Awards at SLIM Brand Excellence. In 2015 he won the Product Brand Year – Gold with another Gold and Silver Award for TVS. He also won Turnaround Brand of the Year Gold for Maliban Biscuits by introducing Maliban Smart Cream Cracker. He has won many awards for his work in Marketing and Branding and was adjudged and conferred as a World Best Marketer in New Delhi. 

Having more than 25 years of brand marketing experience for both Food and Non Food, Hashan headed brands like Nivea, Maliban Biscuits (instrumental in launching Maliban Smart Cream Crackers) and in Fiji Islands – Sunquick, Weetbics, Royal Tea, Island Chill Mineral water and 30 other major brands. Hashan has done research in Inca, Egypt and Sri Lankan symbology. He has further researched colour psychology and Namelogy as well. 

Brand marketing and non conventional marketing are his inventions and newly revamped Diploma in Strategic Brand Management for SLIM with practical assignments was also his invention. Hashan Haputhanthri is the first Sri Lankan to write about a Sri Lankan case study for an International book and the topic was ‘Manusath Derana’ a CSR program done by Derana TV. Also, he introduced Sri Lanka’s 1st Practical Branding academy – YES Academy. Also, practical brand management is also his concept. He is Strategic Business Consultant as well as an ICC Level 01 qualified Cricket Coach.