ChoKoLAATe Marks 20 Years of Empowering Sri Lanka's Youth

Twenty years ago, a magazine was born out of a simple belief: that young people needed a dedicated platform to inspire and be inspired by their peers.

Today, that magazine has grown into ChoKoLAATe, one of Sri Lanka's most recognised youth platforms, touching thousands of lives across the island.

Founded in 2006 by Michelle Gunesekera, ChoKoLAATe began as a youth magazine with a singular purpose - giving young voices a space to be heard.

Two decades later, it has evolved into a multi-arm platform spanning media, events, and schools outreach, shaping the way an entire generation engages, learns, and leads.

ChoKoLAATe's journey started with storytelling, but it did not stay there for long.

It soon became clear that Sri Lanka's youth needed more than a voice on paper; they needed stages to shine, spaces to lead, and opportunities to grow.

That shift transformed ChoKoLAATe into a dynamic youth events company behind some of the country's most recognisable youth initiatives.

Over the years, ChoKoLAATe brought communities together through the Mother-Daughter Fashion Designer Contest and gave a platform to musical talent through Centerstage.

In its commitment to schools, the brand launched Redefining Classrooms, an annual conference for school principals, and the Prefects Convention, an all-island leadership and teambuilding day for student leaders.

Competitive platforms followed, including the ICON Public Speaking Competition and the VOICE It inter-school debating competition, alongside a growing calendar of school workshops delivered directly to classrooms.

Two years ago, ChoKoLAATe expanded further with the introduction of ChoKoLAATe Markets, creating a physical space for small business owners to connect directly with customers.

Today, ChoKoLAATe Events manages client events from concept to execution, bringing the brand's signature precision, creativity, and care to corporate and private occasions alike.

Two decades on, ChoKoLAATe operates across four arms: a quarterly magazine distributed in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, an events management division handling both flagship and client events, a dedicated schools outreach programme, and a media and digital marketing company.

Together, these arms continue to serve the purpose the brand was founded on - creating platforms where young people can inspire and be inspired.

Behind every ChoKoLAATe initiative has been a wider circle of support - partners who believed in the vision from its earliest days, a community of readers, attendees, and supporters who have shown up for two decades, and a core team whose dedication and creativity have powered every event, publication, and programme along the way.

Their collective commitment has been the true engine behind ChoKoLAATe's growth.

As ChoKoLAATe celebrates its platinum milestone under the continued leadership of Founder and Managing Director Michelle Gunesekera, its commitment to empowering Sri Lanka's youth remains as strong as it was on day one.

What started as a single magazine has become a movement that continues to shape the next generation of leaders, creators, and change-makers across the country.

Here's to 20 years of inspiring youth and to the chapters still to be written.