Ask any Sri Lankan what is the best brand in Sri Lanka and most will tell Dialog, Commercial Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Nestle or Cargills. While Dialog has remained the top brand or the best brand in Sri Lanka the last 5 years, LOLC is the fastest growing brand with over 36% growth rate in 2023*.

* brand-directory – Sri Lanka

The BEST Brand in Sri Lanka – How Does He Do It?

To be the best brand in Sri Lanka, a brand has to remain relevant, competitive, and successful over an extended period. Achieving longevity requires not just a strong initial presence but also the capacity to adapt to changing market conditions, consumer preferences, and technological advancements. But this article is NOT about the traditional brands we have come to know, but about a certain “brand name” that has not only stayed afloat but somehow managed to garner more attention, and an almost a cult-like follower base.

Shihan Mihiranga became a household name in Sri Lanka after the singer competed in the inaugural sirasa superstar event in 2006. Despite being the most popular participant he only managed to secure fifth place.

Shortly after finishing the event he released his first album “dreams of Shihan”, which was the launch of one of the best brand stories in Sri Lanka. The album won the most popular album in 2008. Written all by himself, Shihan took his talents to new heights after each album he released. Up to this date his fans remained loyal, and Shihan’s brand longevity can be attributed to a lot of reasons. The difference between him and BnS (Bhatiya Santhush) is that he never went commercial and kept to the internet and minimized his commercial tours. Perhaps BnS might have brought you better ROI, but Mihiranga won the ROI in popularity and follower retention ver the years,

Best Brand in Sri Lanka – key factors that contributed to Mihiranga’s longevity:

1. Strong Brand Identity

• Consistency: A clear and consistent music style, including lyrics, singing style, and music, helped him build a lasting recognition.
• Emotional Connection: Mihiranga’s established an emotional bond with teenage girls and those same teenage girls are now young mothers who loves his music the same way they did years back – long-term loyalty.

2. Adaptability and Innovation

• Staying Relevant: Commercial brands adapt to societal changes, technological advances, Shihan stayed true to his roots, yet he thrived long-term.
• Innovation: Successful brands often innovate their products – BnS. NOT Mihiranga, he remained grounded to his roots and did not change to demand, yet he did not lose his core identity. His fans never left him.

3. Customer-Centric Approach

• Listening to Customers: Mihiranga paid attention to feedback and the unanimous feedback did not require him for change, this fostered a deeper loyalty.
• Quality Products/Services: Mihiranga’s music was free. His shows/concerts did not required steep ticket pricing. He went where the masses were, and the masses embraced him.

4. Strong Leadership and Vision

• Leadership: Companies with long-term success often have leaders, Mihiranga had his music, and he was the icon that provided it.
• Vision: The beauty that was Mihiranga’s barnd was that it did not need a traditional vision/mission statement (that most corporate cultures forcefully enforce).

5. Effective Marketing and Communication

• Storytelling: His compelling story was his life story. His narrative was his music. This built a stronger emotional connections with his fans.
• Social Media and Digital Presence: He did Maintain a modern and effective digital presence ensuring his music stayed on top with his competition.

6. Building Trust and Reputation

• Ethical Practices: A commitment to ethical practices, sustainability, and social responsibility made him bigger than life, yet he still preferred anonymity.
• Transparency: Hi story was accessible to his fans, especially in times of crisis, which created more feeling based love for him.

7. Consistency Across Generations

• Generational Appeal: although this remains to be found out… I am sure he would be a Bob Marley type musician in Sri Lanka… maybe not as much as the icons of the past.
• Cultural Adaptation: Though his music is in Sinhala, he has reached to other “non Sinhala” cultures across Sri Lanka.

I am sure you did not expect to read this as this topic, but I wanted to touch on this topic, because this is not something that is discussed in this day and age, where commercial branding is widely discussed. But Shihan Mihiranga can be the best held secret “the best brand in Sri Lanka”.

Here are Examples of Long-Lived International Brands – For Kicks

• Coca-Cola: Known for its strong brand identity, consistency, and emotional marketing, Coca-Cola has adapted to changing markets while staying true to its core.
• Nike: Continuous innovation, a strong emotional connection with athletes, and cultural relevance have helped Nike maintain its leadership in the sports industry.
• Apple: Apple’s ability to innovate while maintaining a consistent brand experience has driven its longevity.