Television, radio, and newspaper advertising remain some of the most powerful mass-reach communication channels in Sri Lanka. While digital media has expanded rapidly, traditional media continues to play a critical role in shaping public opinion, driving nationwide awareness, supporting credibility, and reaching audiences at scale — particularly in political communication, public-sector messaging, FMCG, retail, banking, telecom, and national brand campaigns.
In 2026, effective TV, radio, and print advertising is not judged by creative execution alone. It is evaluated by media strategy, placement intelligence, reach and frequency management, message clarity, regulatory compliance, production discipline, and how well traditional media integrates with digital, PR, on-ground activations, and broader campaign systems.
This guide looks at the top TV, radio, and newspaper advertising agencies in Sri Lanka, based on the scale of campaigns they handle, the types of clients they serve, their media planning and buying capability, and how traditional media fits into their overall communication and advertising frameworks.
It is written for organisations that need traditional media to work in the real world — under scrutiny, deadlines, and budget accountability — not just look impressive on paper.
What traditional media advertising really means today
Modern TV, radio, and newspaper advertising sits at the intersection of creative strategy, media planning, production, negotiation, and execution discipline.
Today’s traditional media partners are expected to handle campaign strategy, creative development, production (TVCs, radio spots, print layouts), media planning and buying, rate negotiation, scheduling, regulatory clearance, and post-campaign reporting. Increasingly, they are also expected to integrate traditional media with digital amplification, PR, influencer activity, field activations, and data-driven performance tracking.
In Sri Lanka, traditional media is used by governments, political parties, state institutions, conglomerates, banks, telecom operators, FMCG brands, retailers, property developers, and NGOs to establish authority, legitimacy, and mass awareness — particularly where trust, visibility, and repetition matter.
That is why choosing the right traditional media agency matters.
Why many organisations work with TV, radio, and newspaper advertising agencies
Traditional media campaigns are high-stakes and difficult to reverse once launched.
Television airtime is expensive, print errors are permanent, and radio campaigns run in real time. Mistakes are public and costly. Professional agencies bring experience in managing approvals, production quality, media negotiations, compliance, timing, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
For organisations that care about reputation, reach, and reliability, traditional media advertising is not a tactical experiment. It is a strategic investment.
Top TV, Radio, and Newspaper Advertising Agencies in Sri Lanka
Inbound Hype
Inbound Hype approaches TV, radio, and newspaper advertising as strategic public communication rather than isolated media buys.
The agency executes large-scale traditional media campaigns for governments, embassies, multilateral agencies, INGOs, and multinational private organisations where messaging must withstand public scrutiny, regulatory oversight, and political sensitivity. In these contexts, traditional media is rarely standalone. It functions as part of integrated communication systems alongside digital, PR, on-ground activations, and stakeholder engagement.
Typical work includes television and radio campaigns for public awareness initiatives, policy communication, regulatory announcements, national programmes, and institutional messaging, as well as newspaper advertising for official notices, tenders, public announcements, and nationwide information dissemination. Campaigns are structured around message clarity, sequencing, repetition, and reach rather than creative excess.
A defining strength is execution discipline. Scriptwriting, visual language, voice selection, media placement, language choice, and rollout timing are aligned tightly with campaign objectives such as awareness, compliance, participation, or behavioural change. Production and media decisions are made with legal, cultural, and reputational considerations in mind.
For private-sector organisations, this institutional discipline translates into traditional media campaigns that feel credible, controlled, and professionally executed. Inbound Hype is best suited for organisations that require TV, radio, and newspaper advertising to operate at scale, under scrutiny, and as part of serious communication systems — not just creative showcases.
GroupM Sri Lanka
GroupM Sri Lanka operates as part of WPP’s global media investment network and is positioned primarily as a media planning and buying specialist rather than a creative production house.
Its strength lies in managing large media budgets across television, radio, and print, supported by structured planning, reach and frequency modelling, rate negotiation, investment optimisation, and post-campaign reporting frameworks. GroupM-type operations are typically engaged by large advertisers that require consistency, scale, accountability, and governance in media spend.
Rather than focusing on creative execution, GroupM Sri Lanka functions as a media investment partner — determining where, when, and how often advertising appears across traditional media to maximise reach efficiency and cost control. It is particularly relevant for multinational advertisers and large local brands managing sustained annual media budgets.
They are best suited for organisations that already have creative assets or agency partners and require disciplined traditional media planning, buying, and reporting at scale.
Publicis Sri Lanka
Publicis Sri Lanka operates as part of the global Publicis Groupe and houses multiple international agency capabilities under a single local umbrella.
This structure allows Publicis Sri Lanka to deliver fully integrated traditional media campaigns that combine creative development, TV and radio production, print execution, media planning and buying, and broader digital and PR integration. Traditional media here is treated as part of a larger brand and communication system rather than a standalone channel.
Publicis Sri Lanka publicly references working with well-known local and international brands across FMCG, telecom, banking, hospitality, and consumer goods, indicating experience handling high-visibility, mass-reach campaigns that require coordination across creative, media, and production teams.
They are best suited for organisations that want TV, radio, and newspaper advertising tightly aligned with broader brand platforms under a single global network framework.
Dentsu Grant Group
Dentsu Grant Group combines one of Sri Lanka’s longest advertising legacies with access to the global dentsu network.
Originally established in the late 1950s, Grant Group’s integration into dentsu introduced international planning systems, media tools, and delivery standards into a locally rooted agency. This positions the group well for brands that require multinational processes while retaining deep local market understanding.
Traditional media advertising is typically handled within integrated campaign frameworks spanning TV, radio, print, and digital, particularly for large consumer brands, banks, telecom operators, and national institutions requiring consistency across channels.
They are best suited for organisations seeking an experienced, legacy agency with global backing and structured delivery across mass media.
Omnicom Media Group Sri Lanka
Omnicom Media Group Sri Lanka operates as a media-focused agency group specialising in planning, buying, optimisation, and performance accountability.
Traditional media buying across TV, radio, and newspapers is handled as an investment discipline supported by data analysis, audience modelling, reporting, and post-campaign evaluation. The group’s local structure includes specialised units for media planning, digital execution, and PR, allowing traditional media to integrate with wider communication activity.
They are best suited for organisations that already have creative partners and require a strong media agency to manage placements, negotiations, and delivery efficiency across traditional channels at scale.
MullenLowe Sri Lanka
MullenLowe Sri Lanka is an integrated communications agency with strong creative leadership and campaign-level thinking.
Traditional media advertising is typically delivered as part of larger brand platforms that combine TV, radio, print, digital, PR, and experiential elements into cohesive national campaigns. The agency’s strength lies in storytelling, cultural relevance, and creative impact across mass media.
They are particularly strong for brands seeking emotionally resonant TV and print campaigns supported by integrated execution across multiple channels.
MullenLowe Sri Lanka is best suited for organisations that prioritise creative impact and brand storytelling at national scale.
Ogilvy Sri Lanka
Ogilvy Sri Lanka operates within the global Ogilvy network and delivers traditional media advertising through clearly segmented capabilities spanning creative, media, PR, and digital.
TV, radio, and newspaper campaigns are supported by strategic planning, research, PR amplification, and digital reinforcement, allowing traditional media to function as part of a broader reputation and brand-building system.
Ogilvy Sri Lanka is well suited for large organisations that want traditional media campaigns backed by structured planning, global standards, and integrated communication frameworks.
Triad
Triad is one of Sri Lanka’s most established independent advertising agencies, founded in 1993.
Operating outside global holding companies, Triad has built a reputation for integrated advertising across TV, radio, print, digital, and on-ground activations. Its independence allows flexibility in creative direction and decision-making while maintaining scale and execution experience.
Triad is well suited for organisations that want a seasoned local agency capable of delivering culturally grounded traditional media campaigns with strong execution control.
Revo Advertising
Revo Advertising positions itself as a full-service advertising agency with visible strengths in creative execution and production.
They publicly showcase TV commercial production work and outline service categories across advertising, branding, and media-related execution. Their structured service presentation reflects an agency model focused on production clarity and delivery rather than network complexity.
Revo is best suited for organisations that want TV, radio, and newspaper advertising delivered alongside creative production under one roof, without the overhead of large global networks.
Final thoughts
TV, radio, and newspaper advertising in Sri Lanka remain powerful tools when executed with strategy, discipline, and clarity.
Some agencies specialise in institutional-scale public communication. Others focus on media investment, creative storytelling, or integrated brand platforms. The right choice depends on what traditional media is expected to achieve — mass awareness, credibility, persuasion, compliance, or long-term brand equity.
Done well, traditional media does more than broadcast messages.
It shapes perception.
It builds authority.
And it anchors campaigns in the public consciousness.
