As the sun rises over Colombo’s skyline this November, the city will once again find itself at the crossroads of creativity and conversation. Within the futuristic architecture of Cinnamon Life, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Lounge transforms into a hub of ideas, where the boundaries between design, wellness, technology, and culture blur in the most inspiring ways.
Returning on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2025, the Mercedes-Benz Future Talks series presents a bold, interdisciplinary programme of discussions curated to challenge, inform, and ignite imagination. Over two days, global and local thought leaders will explore the shifting landscapes of fashion, wellness, architecture, gastronomy, tourism, and creative innovation, each conversation illuminating what it means to live and create in an age of transformation. At the heart of this year’s series are two of the world’s leading futurists, Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond, co-founders of The Future Laboratory in London. Their presence weaves a golden thread through several of the weekend’s sessions, linking each theme with a shared vision: to forecast and shape a better, more connected world.
Longevity Futures: New Thinking in Health and Wellness
Saturday, 22nd November 2025 | 9.30am – 11.00am
The series opens with a topic that resonates universally, our pursuit of longevity and wellbeing. Chaired by Tanuja Raymond Perera, Longevity Futures: New Thinking in Health and Wellness explores the intersection between science, spirituality, and design in redefining what it means to live well. Sanderson and Raymond set the tone with insights from The Future Laboratory’s research on wellness innovation, before an inspiring panel featuring Serena Burgess, Dr. Kamala Easton, and Lucy Vittrup delves into how mindfulness, biohacking, and cultural rituals are converging in a new era of holistic living. The conversation reframes health as a lifelong design; not just a destination.
Magnetic Spaces, Revolutionary Brands
Saturday, 22nd November 2025 | 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Next, Architect Philip Weeraratne moderates a session that looks at the emotional architecture of brands, how the spaces we inhabit influence the experiences we remember. In Magnetic Spaces, Revolutionary Brands, a panel of creative trailblazers; Niloufer Anverally, Anika Fernando, Shalin Balasuriya, and Haseeb Omar share stories from the frontlines of design, retail, and luxury hospitality. From the sensory aesthetics of Spa Ceylon to the conceptual brilliance of PR, Moose Clothing, and Leather Collection, each brand represents a new model of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship built on emotion, identity, and imagination. This discussion invites audiences to see architecture not just as structure, but as storytelling; an idea that will echo throughout the weekend.
Meaningful Journeys: The Future of Tourism and Travel
Saturday, 22nd November 2025 | 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Moderated by Saakya Ukwatte, Meaningful Journeys takes the conversation global. As the world rethinks what it means to travel, this session unpacks a growing shift towards authenticity and purpose in tourism. With Malik J. Fernando, Dmitri Cooray, and Sanjiv Hulugalle on the panel, the discussion explores how Sri Lanka’s hospitality leaders are championing sustainability, culture, and local community engagement. Guided once again by insights from Sanderson and Raymond, the session reimagines the future traveller; one who seeks meaning over luxury, and experience over excess.
The Creative Revolution: How One Costume Empowered Women to Dance
Saturday, 22nd November 2025 | 3.30pm – 4.30pm
The final talk of the day stands as a moving tribute to art’s power to liberate. In a solo presentation, Dr. Ravibandhu Vidyapathy, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected dance maestros, recounts the story of how a single costume transformed the narrative of female dancers in Sri Lanka. The Creative Revolution is both historical and deeply human, a meditation on how design and expression intersect with freedom, identity, and gender. Through his personal reflections, Dr. Vidyapathy reminds audiences that every stitch, every movement, and every creative choice carries the potential to reshape culture.
Future Cities: Makings of a Creative City – Colombo
Sunday, 23rd November 2025 | 9.00am – 11.00am
Day Two begins with a visionary discussion about Colombo’s creative potential. Moderated by Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond, Future Cities examines how design, policy, and public space can foster innovation and inclusivity in urban life. Panellists Architect Ruchi Dhillon and Ian M. H. Joseph present perspectives on sustainable city-building and architectural storytelling, exploring how Colombo might evolve into a truly “creative city,” one where art, business, and culture thrive symbiotically.
The Art of Atmosphere and The Architects of Taste
Sunday, 23rd November 2025 | 11.30am – 1.00pm
Moderated by Eliane Sterchi, The Art of Atmosphere and The Architects of Taste, offers a sensorial journey through design and gastronomy. Panellists Gehan Fernando, Jesse Aston, and Mahesh Alkegama unpack how culinary experiences are crafted, from the subtle choreography of lighting and sound to the emotional resonance of space and flavour. This session highlights how atmosphere itself becomes a form of artistry, redefining what it means to dine in a world increasingly attuned to mood, narrative, and connection.
Designing Fashion in the Synthocene Era: The Future of Style is Here
Sunday, 23rd November 2025 | 1.30pm – 3.00pm
The closing conversation, moderated by Rakhil Hirdaramani, brings the focus back to fashion, the very heart of the week’s celebrations. Designing Fashion in the Synthocene Era imagines a world where technology and creativity merge seamlessly. With Amreen Ashraf, Mariam Ashroff Omar, and Jehan Jayasuriya joining Sanderson and Raymond, the session explores a near future where AI, sustainable innovation, and digital fabrication are reshaping style itself. The discussion touches on the ethics of design in a time of climate urgency, while celebrating a new generation of designers who see fashion as both expression and responsibility.
A New Vocabulary for the Future
Across its seven sessions, Mercedes-Benz Future Talks 2025 reveals that fashion is not only about what we wear, but also about how we live, build, move, and dream. From the architecture of experience to the wellness of the mind, each conversation invites audiences to rethink the role of creativity in shaping a better world. The synergy between international futurists and Sri Lankan innovators highlights the nation’s growing voice in global design discourse, one that values sustainability, inclusivity, and authenticity. As the final session concludes and the lights dim on Level 7 of Cinnamon Life, one thing becomes clear: these are not just talks. They are blueprints for the future; designed to inspire a generation to think differently, create boldly, and imagine endlessly.
