Lecture Panel

Gayan Madushanka Basnayake

Founder & CEO – Mix Masters Bartending Academy
Global Leader in Innovative Bartending Education – Passion Vista, Global Business Leadership Forum 2025
UAE Draught Masters Champion 2016 – Stella Artois (Selected from over 6,000 bartenders across the UAE)

Gayan Madushanka Basnayake is an internationally recognized beverage professional and the most experienced bartending educator in Sri Lanka, with over 18 years of global expertise in mixology, beverage management, and hospitality training.

His journey began at the prestigious Mount Lavinia Hotel, where his passion for beverages was born. Gayan later honed his skills in Dubai’s competitive hospitality scene, working with elite venues such as Girders at JA Ocean View Hotel and Garden on 8 at Media One Hotel. His technical excellence and artistry led him to become the UAE Draught Masters Champion 2016, triumphing over more than 6,000 bartenders in a national competition hosted by Stella Artois. Following his victory, he had the opportunity to explore the brewing culture and bar standards in the United Kingdom, gaining invaluable exposure to Europe’s beverage craftsmanship and service excellence.

Gayan’s international career expanded across world-renowned hotel brands, including the Jumeirah Group (Maldives), Hard Rock Hotel, and Constance Hotels & Resorts (Seychelles), where he developed advanced knowledge in wine and earned recognition as a professional sommelier. His exceptional mixology skills also earned him finalist placements in multiple international cocktail competitions, further establishing his reputation as a creative innovator.

Upon returning to Sri Lanka, Gayan served as Food & Beverage Manager at Mandara Resort, Mirissa, before founding Mix Masters Bartending Academy, Sri Lanka’s first and only CPD-accredited bartending training provider. Through his visionary leadership, he introduced international accreditation and skills-based professional training for the first time in Sri Lanka, setting a new benchmark for quality and authenticity in bartending education.

In 2025, Gayan’s global impact was recognized at the Global Business Leadership Forum by Passion Vista, where he received the prestigious title of “Global Leader in Innovative Bartending Education.” His work continues to inspire a new generation of hospitality professionals, raising the standard of bartending education across the region and shaping the future of the industry, one skilled bartender at a time.

Thasun Rasanga Fernando

Sri Lanka’s Leading Coffee Educator & Barista Maestro

We are proud to welcome Thasun Rasanga Fernando to Mix Masters Bartending Academy as our official Barista Training Partner — a visionary coffee professional with over a decade of experience in café operations, specialty coffee education, and skill development.

With a career spanning more than 10 years, Thasun has trained and certified over 1,000 students, empowering many to build rewarding careers with global coffee brands. His unique teaching approach blends technical mastery with real-world experience, guiding students from their first espresso shot to confident, industry-ready baristas.

Throughout his career, Thasun has designed and delivered comprehensive barista training programs covering espresso extraction, calibration, sensory evaluation, and advanced latte art. His commitment to hands-on learning and structured feedback has earned him recognition as one of Sri Lanka’s highest-rated Barista Trainers on Google Reviews — a reflection of his passion, professionalism, and student success.

Thasun’s expertise was shaped by his leadership roles as Store Manager and Barista Maestro at Costa Coffee (Bahrain) and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Sri Lanka). At Costa Coffee, he made history as the youngest manager to head their largest outlet at Bahrain City Centre, setting new performance standards and linking world-class training to operational excellence.

At Mix Masters Bartending Academy, Thasun leads the Barista Foundation Course and Internship Program, accredited by CPD UK and CA UK. His mission is to elevate professional coffee education in Sri Lanka and inspire a new generation of globally recognized baristas.

Bikram Gautam

Head of Wine Education – Mix Masters Bartending Academy
Lead Sommelier – Constance Hotels & Resorts
Advanced Sommelier (Level 3, Merit) – Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
Certified Sommelier – Court of Master Sommeliers

Bikram Gautam leads a distinguished team of Sommeliers at Constance Hotels & Resorts, where wine is celebrated as a profound expression of culture, history, and art. At the heart of his role lies one of the region’s most exceptional collections a 30,000-bottle cellar featuring over 1,700 labels curated with precision and passion. He oversees every element of the wine experience, from sourcing and tastings to menu pairings and cellar management, maintaining world-class hospitality standards

Having worked across prestigious luxury hotels and cruise lines around the world, Bikram has developed an extraordinary depth of knowledge in global wine trends, service philosophy, and fine-dining operations. His academic journey includes a Certified Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers, an Advanced Sommelier (Level 3) Award in Wines & Spirits with Merit from WSET, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management from the European University Cyprus.

Driven by a passion to educate and inspire, Bikram now brings his global experience to Mix Masters Bartending Academy, where he mentors aspiring professionals in wine appreciation, service, and the rigorous standards of WSET certification preparation.

A.D. Buddhika Jayamal

buddhika holds a Diploma in Tourism Economics & Hospitality Management from the University of Colombo and has been actively involved in the industry since 2010. Having completed foundational courses at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management, he brings extensive expertise as the Asst Beverage Manager at Waters Edge. With his wealth of experience, Buddhika is ready to share his skills and knowledge as a visiting lecturer at Mix Masters Bartending Academy.