IDL and SLHGA collaborate to elevate Sri Lanka’s mixology scene

Fom left -  B.H.R. Sariffodeen – Director General – SLTDA/  Shirantha Peiris – Chairman – SLITHM/ Dickson Kumara – Chairman, National Bartenders Competition Organizing Committee/ Patrick Pereira – President – SLHGA/  Sujeewa Jayamanne – Chief Marketing Officer – IDL/ Rajiv Dassanayake – Head of HoReCa– IDL/ Roy Khanna - Head of Marketing & Channel Development – IDL/  Rizme Jamaldeen – Marketing Manager - IDL

Looking to enrich Sri Lanka’s vibrant hospitality scene and add new flair, International Distillers Limited (IDL) – Sri Lanka’s market leader in Locally Manufactured Foreign Liquor (LMFL) – has joined forces with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) to host the highly-anticipated National Bartenders
Competition 2024. 

This ground-breaking collaboration marks a pivotal moment for mixology in Sri Lanka, aiming to set new benchmarks of excellence while nurturing local talent. 
The competition was officially announced and launched at a special press conference held on May 10th. At the event, representatives from IDL and SLHGA unveiled their shared vision for the competition, emphasizing its role in propelling Sri Lanka onto the global stage as a destination renowned for its exceptional beverages and hospitality experiences. Accordingly, the Grand Finale of the National Bartenders Competition 2024 will be held on June 16th at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
The National Bartenders Competition made a comeback in 2023 after a long hiatus, subsequent to the global pandemic and other challenges the country faced. The event provides a much-needed platform for talented mixologists to shine and build a name for themselves, whilst also serving to create excitement about Sri Lanka in the global
tourism market. 
On the sidelines, the event will also provide extensive trainings, seminars, workshops, and other skills development opportunities. Through a series of regional training sessions and a competition comprising six regional contests, a semi-finals round, and a grand finale, bartenders from across the Island will have the opportunity to refine their skills and showcase their expertise to a
wide audience.

Dickson Kumara is the Chairman of the National Bartenders Competition Organizing Committee.
President of the SLHGA Patrick Pereira added, “We truly believe that National Bartenders Competition will pave way for a new era in bartending in Sri Lanka with improved skills and novel approaches to mixology. The success of any event hinges on the dedication of its partners, and we are thrilled to have discovered a partner equally devoted to our cause in IDL.”