SRI LANKA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Anomi Wanigasekera, Charuni Hewage and Sabeera Shariff, Julius & Creasy
Enforcement and Institutional Support Enforcement of IP rights is quite challenging in areas such as counterfeiting, piracy and trade mark infringe - ments; a more advanced mechanism is required to guarantee the rights of creators, especially in the digi - tal realm. Sri Lanka is making progress with the fol - lowing implementations. Adopting the Madrid Protocol in Sri Lanka will greatly improve the trade mark registration procedure by enabling companies to submit a single application to several countries, doing away with the requirement for separate filings in each nation and lowering related legal expenses. The cost-effective international pro - tection offered by this simplified procedure will make it easier for Sri Lankan companies – especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – to protect their brands abroad. Sri Lankan businesses might become more globally competitive by registering trade marks more easily and gaining protection in important markets includ - ing the USA, China, India and the European Union. Additionally, by providing multinational companies doing business in Sri Lanka with more legal certainty, a harmonised trade mark system will draw foreign direct investment (FDI). Furthermore, ratifying the Madrid Protocol would force Sri Lanka’s NIPO to enhance administrative effectiveness and compliance with timelines, thereby promoting IP governance and modernisation. Sri Lanka officially opened its first national Geo - graphical Indications Registry on 27 February 2025, in Colombo, with support from the European Union and the United Nations Industrial Development Organiza - tion (UNIDO), providing legal protection, preserving authenticity and enhancing the global marketability of Sri Lanka’s unique local products. In 2009, the Sri Lankan government amended its infor - mation and communication technology (ICT) policy, requiring government agencies to only use licensed or open-source software.
In 2010, the Sri Lankan government established the Special Anti-Piracy and Counterfeit Unit (SACU) within the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police. This was initiated to combat piracy, counterfeit goods and IP crimes. Sri Lanka Customs is responsible for the enforcement of IP rights at the border. The Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) of Sri Lanka Customs focuses on prevent - ing the importation and exportation of counterfeit/ pirated goods by exercising its powers under the Cus - toms Ordinance and IP Act, safeguarding consum - ers from unsafe products and preserving fair market practices. Trade marks registered with the NIPO could be registered with the CPU. The government of Sri Lanka is developing a Nation - al AI Strategy for 2024–2028, investing LKR105 bil - lion and setting up a National AI Centre. Despite the advances in AI preparedness, ongoing challenges for Sri Lanka include data infrastructure, human capital and technical maturity. Under the provisions of the IP Act, infringement of IP rights could be enforced by both civil and criminal action. Conclusion Copyright and trade mark laws in Sri Lanka are seeing considerable expansion and transformation. IP rights and now better protected as a result of the attempt to modernise the IP law regime, strengthen enforce - ment and align with international standards. However, issues persist, particularly in terms of general public knowledge, enforcement and access to legal services. As global trade and digital content continue to grow, Sri Lankan law will undoubtedly evolve to accommo - date these new realities in the IP field, particularly in response to upcoming technological advancements and digital transformation.
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