AD Agencies
TBWASri Lanka and Maliban bring humanity to the Till with ‘HumaniTill’
MUMBAI – In a powerful demonstration of creativity with purpose, TBWASri Lanka has unveiled a unique public engagement initiative called HumaniTill, developed in collaboration with its client Maliban and in partnership with the Meththa Foundation. The project is designed to restore mobility, independence, and dignity to people with disabilities across Sri Lanka.
Conceived by TBWASri Lanka, HumaniTill transforms the humble donation box into a symbol of empathy and hope. The installation takes the form of a life-sized human figure with a transparent prosthetic arm and leg – a striking reminder of the thousands who have lost limbs due to illness or accidents. More than just a creative execution, the initiative seeks to inspire action by connecting the act of giving with the tangible outcome of restoring someone’s ability to walk again.
“At TBWA, we always ask how creativity can fuel social impact. HumaniTill is not just a campaign; it’s a movement that embodies disruption with meaning,” said Renuka Marshall, managing director at TBWASri Lanka. “We are proud to collaborate with Maliban and Meththa Foundation on this purpose-driven journey.”
Launched during the sacred Poson Poya season in Anuradhapura – one of the most significant periods of religious observance in Sri Lanka – HumaniTill was placed at the holy sites of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanwelisaya. With thousands of devotees in attendance, the campaign bridged spiritual generosity with life-changing outcomes.
To date, the initiative has collected enough money to fund the donation of three below-knee prosthetic limbs, with a fourth limb – leg or arm, depending on the waiting list – set to be provided in the coming weeks. Each prosthetic limb costs a minimum of Rs. 60,000 (approx. USD 200), with the basic, up-to-standard below-knee limb being the primary focus, ensuring maximum impact for every rupee raised.
“This was a moment where brand, culture, and compassion converged,” added Soruban Sivapatham, chief creative officer at TBWASri Lanka. “It’s rare to be part of an idea that’s so visually moving and deeply human. HumaniTill is a reminder that small acts can lead to profound change.”
As part of an ongoing program, HumaniTill will continue to be deployed across the country, inviting the public to participate in acts of giving that directly transform lives. The initiative is set to expand to 12 of the most prominent Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, with two locations already completed. These events will coincide with the Poya holiday each month, harnessing moments of collective spirituality for meaningful action. Discussions are also underway to bring HumaniTill installations to prominent public spaces – such as malls and other high-traffic venues – further widening its reach and impact.
AD Agencies
AdTrust Summit 2026 to examine trust, AI and Gen Alpha in advertising
Two-day summit in Mumbai to explore ethics, regulation and the future of advertising trust
MUMBAI: At a time when advertising is navigating a delicate trust deficit, the Advertising Standards Council of India is preparing to bring the industry to the table. On 17 and 18 March, the body will host the inaugural AdTrust Summit 2026 in Mumbai, a two-day gathering designed to spark conversation around responsibility, regulation and credibility in modern advertising.
The summit, to be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex, will bring together leaders from advertising, media, technology and policy to examine how brands can build trust in a marketplace increasingly shaped by algorithms, influencers and artificial intelligence.
In an age of deepfakes, dark patterns and blurred lines between content and commerce, the question is no longer just how brands capture attention, but whether audiences believe what they see. The AdTrust Summit aims to unpack that challenge.
Day one will turn its attention to the youngest digital natives. Titled Decoding Gen Alpha, the session will unveil ‘What the Sigma?’, a study by ASCI and Futurebrands Consulting that explores how children growing up in a hyper-digital environment encounter advertising and commercial messaging.
The report presentation will be delivered by Santosh Desai, founder and director at Think9 Consumer Technologies and a social commentator known for his insights into consumer behaviour. The discussion that follows will attempt to decode how Gen Alpha consumes media, interacts with brands and navigates the growing overlap between entertainment and marketing.
In a move that mirrors the subject itself, two Gen Alpha students will also join the conversation, offering a rare perspective from the generation advertisers are trying to understand.
The second panel of the day will shift the focus from observation to implication, asking what the report’s findings mean for brands, agencies and society. Speakers include Karthik Srinivasan, communications strategy consultant; Preeti Vyas, president at Mythik; and Abigail Dias, associate president planning at Ogilvy. The session will be moderated by Sonali Krishna, editor at ET Brand Equity.
Day two moves from insight to regulation. Under the theme From Compliance to Trust, ASCI will release its Ad Law Compendium, a comprehensive guide to India’s advertising regulations.
The day will open with a keynote by Sudhanshu Vats, chairman at ASCI and managing director at Pidilite Industries, followed by a chief guest address by Sanjay Jaju, secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Legal experts from Khaitan & Co., including Haigreve Khaitan, senior partner, and Tanu Banerjee, partner, will present an overview of the current advertising law landscape in India and examine whether existing frameworks are equipped to deal with emerging technologies and formats.
Subsequent panels will explore issues increasingly shaping the industry’s ethical compass. Conversations will range from the limits of persuasive design and the rise of dark patterns, to the growing scrutiny brands face from digital creators and consumer watchdogs.
One session will also feature Revant Himatsingka, widely known online as the Food Pharmer, whose critiques of packaged food brands have sparked debate around transparency and corporate accountability.
Later discussions will turn toward media literacy among Gen Alpha, asking how children can be equipped to navigate a digital world where gaming, content and commerce are becoming indistinguishable.
The summit will conclude with a final panel on the future of advertising, bringing together voices from agencies, legal circles and technology platforms to discuss how innovation, intelligence and integrity can coexist.
For an industry built on persuasion, trust has always been its quiet currency. But as audiences grow more sceptical and digital ecosystems more complex, that currency is under pressure.
Events like the AdTrust Summit suggest the advertising world knows it cannot afford to take credibility for granted. The real challenge now is turning conversation into commitment.
