### 📈 Road to Cannes: Metal Factor Opens 2026 Yong Lye Peng Scholarship

Metal Factor has announced the second edition of its Next Generation Program, offering a Rs. 1 million sponsorship for a senior Sri Lankan professional to attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026 in France. • Objective: The initiative aims to invest in the next generation of leadership within the advertising industry, providing exposure to world-class standards, global networking, and award-winning work. • Eligibility: Open to senior professionals aged 35–50 with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the advertising sector. • Legacy & Funding: The scholarship is funded by Douglas Khoo in memory of Yong Lye Peng, facilitating global recognition for Sri Lankan creative talent. • Impact: Last year’s recipient, Harendra Uyanage of MullenLowe, utilized the scholarship to gain invaluable global insights, which have been integrated back into the local industry. This program, led by Metal Factor, continues to serve as a bridge for the local creative & marketing sectors to achieve international benchmarks and drive industry growth in the 2020s.