The 29th National Bartenders Competition 2024 ended on a high note, on 14th of June at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, highlighting the significance of mixology in Sri Lanka's thriving hospitality sector while demonstrating the outstanding skills and creativity of the island's bartenders.

Organized by the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) and sponsored by International Distillers Limited (IDL), Sri Lanka's leader in locally manufactured foreign liquor, this year’s National Bartenders Competition was led by the General Secretary of SLHGA and the Head of National Bartenders sub-committee, Mr. Dickson Kumara. 

The event was attended by Mr. Patrick Perera, President of SLHGA, Ms. Indhu Selvaratnam, Director of IDL and Mr. Shirantha Peiris, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), other industry leaders, hospitality professionals, and notable guests.

At the competition, Mr. Shan Hussain emerged as the Champion in the Classic Category while Mr. B.M.C.D. Bandara won the top spot in Flair Category while also securing the title of Most Popular Bartender-Online. Mr. Adhil Sama became the awardee for the Most Promising Bartender. 

This event was the culmination of months of challenging regional contests and intensive training sessions, highlighting the dedication and expertise of the participants.

Commenting on the Competition, Mr. Kemal De Soysa, Director and CEO of IDL, highlighted the company's commitment to nurturing local talent and raising the standards of mixology in Sri Lanka: "We are thrilled to support this event once again this year. It's encouraging to see the competition's standards improve significantly. We are particularly pleased with the strong participation in the regional competitions and master classes we've conducted over the past months.”
“We congratulate all the winners and hope that everyone who participated gained valuable skills and experiences. This will ultimately elevate the bartending profession and enhance Sri Lanka's tourism experience.” Mr. De Soysa added.

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