NESTOMALT AND OGILVY DIGITAL WIN GOLD AT DRAGONS OF ASIA AWARDS 2026 FOR THE ‘NESTOMALT POWERING AVURUDU ’ CAMPAIGN
Colombo, Sri Lanka – Nestlé Lanka’s flagship malted food drink brand, NESTOMALT, together with Ogilvy Digital, has won a Gold Dragon at the Dragons of Asia Awards 2026 for its Avurudu campaign, Our Very Own New Year Filled with Power, Strength and Energy.
The campaign reimagined NESTOMALT’s enduring values of Power, Strength and Energy for a new generation, celebrating everyday Sri Lankans who embody these qualities and giving the brand a distinctive way to connect during Avurudu, one of the country’s most competitive marketing periods.
Presented at the 2026 awards night held in Malaysia, the recognition comes from the Dragons of Asia platform, one of the region’s leading programmes for marketing communications effectiveness, with entries judged on strategy, originality, execution and measurable results.
Commenting on the recognition, Keashan Wijayasinghe, Senior Brand Manager-NESTOMALT, Nestlé Lanka said, “Avurudu has long been a defining moment for NESTOMALT to celebrate the power, strength and energy that have connected the brand with Sri Lankans for generations. Drawing on this long-standing association, the campaign reimagined these enduring brand values as a contemporary celebration of the resilience and determination of the Sri Lankan people, recognizing those who embody them through their everyday actions. For a brand that has been part of the nation’s life for over six decades, recognition at the Dragons of Asia is especially meaningful. It is a testament to NESTOMALT’s ability to remain true to its heritage while continually evolving the way it connects with and inspires new generations of Sri Lankans.”
The campaign placed fishermen, farmers, tea pluckers, tuk-tuk drivers, municipal workers, security personnel, and many other communities who keep Sri Lanka moving at the heart of NESTOMALT’s Avurudu celebrations. Their unique skills and expertise inspired a fresh interpretation of familiar Avurudu traditions.
Rohan Perera, Director – Digital, Ogilvy Digital, said, “The opportunity was to take a brand truth that Sri Lankans have known for generations and find a fresh, culturally relevant way to bring it to life. We realised that Power, Strength and Energy were already all around us in the people whose skills and effort keep the country moving every day. By making them the focus of the idea, we could move beyond simply communicating the brand promise and let people experience it for themselves. For us, that is where creativity becomes most valuable, when a strong idea builds relevance for the brand, connects meaningfully with people and ultimately delivers results for the client.”
That thinking was translated into a series of Avurudu celebrations that reimagined traditional festive games around the participants’ own skills and occupations. Fishermen competed in speed fish-cutting and auctioneering challenges, tea pluckers put their harvesting skills to the test, tuk-tuk drivers demonstrated precision and control, while farmers showcased the craftsmanship involved in cultivating the land. In this way, occupational expertise became part of the festivities, giving each community an authentic role in the celebration rather than simply featuring them in campaign communications.
The experiences were extended through seasonal activations and amplified across broadcast and digital media, content creators and community platforms, taking what began within individual communities to audiences across the country. This broader amplification helped the campaign build strong visibility and engagement during the highly competitive Avurudu period.
Beyond audience engagement, the campaign delivered positive business results, demonstrating how a culturally relevant creative idea can reinvigorate a heritage brand proposition, deepen consumer connection, and drive commercial growth.
