"The key to winning an Effie includes the understanding of the business context, developing aligned objectives, insightful strategy, outstanding creativity and the market results to prove it," organizers Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing said in a statement.

Effie awards were started in 1968 by American Marketing Association (AMA) in USA now has grown to Global Effie, APAC Effie, Euro Effie, MENA Effie and over 35 national Effie programmes.

President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing Tilan Wijayesekera said the awards were started in Sri Lanka in 2008 "to encourage greater competitiveness and promote inspiring communication campaigns that focus on results."

Entries are entertained under 28 categories for campaigns that ran between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

"Entries for the Effie 2012 will be open to advertising agencies or any campaign that has proven to be effective with justifiable results," project chairman, Ahamed Aroos said.

"Sri Lanka is yet to win gold at the Effie Awards, which is why this year we plan to provide the resources, guidance and insights on how to win an Effie."

Ben Lightfoot, chairman of the Singapore Effies Chapter for 2012 and chief exectvie of the McCann Group will be a resource available to participants. The McCann Group has won a top 'Grand Effie' prize.