Lecture Panel

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.

Kavindu Maduranga

Bottle Flair Trainer

Kavindu Maduranga is an award-winning flair bartender and one of the most exciting young talents in Sri Lanka’s bartending scene. He is the National Flair Bartender 2026 – Southern Region Winner and 3rd Runner-Up at the National Finals, showcasing exceptional skill and creativity on a competitive national stage.

A strong competitor on Sri Lanka’s Got Talent 2026, Kavindu is known for his high-energy performances, sharp technique, and signature flair moves that captivate audiences. With a perfect blend of style, precision, and showmanship, he brings real-world competitive experience to the classroom.

As the Flair Trainer at Mix Masters, Kavindu inspires students to master flair bartending with confidence, creativity, and performance-ready skills that stand out behind any bar.

Lecture Panel

Thasun Rasanga Fernando

Bikram Gautam

Kavindu Maduranga

Opening Hours

Our Location