SLIM launches Effie awards

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body which actively engages itself in enhancing the marketing profession and other related fields in the country, launched the Sri Lankan version of the globally acclaimed Effie Awards recently. Chairman of the Asia Pacific Effies Committee, Judd Labarthe was present.

"Effie is the most significant and the most credible Advertising / Marketing Communications Awards in the world. It is a significant event in over 38 countries in five continents across the globe.

The Effie Awards honour the most significant achievement in Advertising and Marketing Communications, which is effectiveness.

The awards scheme was introduced by the New York American Marketing Association in 1968", Wasantha Mallikaarachchi, the Chairman SLIM Sri Lanka - Effie 2008 Committee and Secretary of the Asia Marketing Federation said.

A key element that has to be given high prominence in evaluating marketing communications is, whether the marketing communications have delivered the expected results. In other words, whether the communication has been Effective...This is what the Effies will evaluate, thus I believe this is a key need of the time. We believe it was our duty as the National Body of Marketing in Sri Lanka to introduce such a programto the country, he said.

The goal of the team which has taken the initiative to organise the Sri Lankan EFFIEs is to see Sri Lanka win a global Effie.

The organising committee of the SLIM - Sri Lankan Effies 2008 believes that achieving this goal would be made easier with the launch of the Effies in Sri Lanka since the local finalists gain the opportunity to directly enter the final round of the Asia Pacific Effies.