News and insights
21 December 2025
CHAMBERS & PARTNERS ASIA- PACIFIC GUIDE 2026
We are pleased to share our firmโs rankings in the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Guide 2026. In this yearโs guide, the firm continues to maintain its strong rankings for its Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, and Corporate/Commercial practices. Our Founder-Managing Partner, Sudath Perera, is also listed as an 'Eminent Practitioner' and remains the only Sri Lankan lawyer to be awarded this designation in the directory, with listings in both Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution. The 2026 guide also reflects ongoing 'Notable Practitioner' recognition for Dushyantha Perera (Head of Department - Corporate & Commercial Law), Himani Perera (Head of Department - Intellectual Property), and Manoj Bandara (Lead Counsel - Dispute Resolution). We thank our clients and peers for their feedback to Chambers & Partners.
09 December 2025
2025 AsiaIP Awards – Kuala Lumpur
We are pleased to announce that Sudath Perera Associates was awarded SriLanka's 'Copyright Firm of the Year', at the 2025 Asia IP Awards held on 6th November 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. We express thanks to our clients and partners for the trust and support that has enabled us to earn this recognition. Pictured below (left): Chathurika Rupasinghe (Partner - Intellectual Property Department)
03 December 2025
๐๐๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐ต โ ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐
Sri Lanka is facing one of the most destructive climate-driven disasters in recent history. Cyclone Ditwah has brought severe floods, landslides and widespread infrastructure damage across the island. Thousands of homes are underwater, key transport routes remain blocked, and entire communities have been displaced. The human cost is heartbreaking - ๐ต๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ต๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ. In many districts across the country, the priority now is ensuring safety, shelter, food, medicine, and clean water for affected families. Rebuilding homes, schools, small businesses and public infrastructure will take sustained assistance over the coming weeks and months. At Sudath Perera Associates, we stand with our affected communities - committed to supporting relief, recovery, and resilience. We encourage our colleagues, clients, international partners and well-wishers to also consider supporting Sri Lankaโs recovery efforts through verified relief channels. โข Official donation accounts of the ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: www.donate.gov.lk โข ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ.๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ (supporting the relief efforts of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society): https://lnkd.in/gjwEv9iG Please also email info@sudathpereraassociates.com for guidance on donation dry rations and other materials directly. ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น, ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด-๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. We urge all who can, especially our international colleagues and networks, to join hands with Sri Lanka at this critical time.
17 November 2025
Will be attending the TerraLex Global Meeting 2025 (19-22 November | Bangkok, Thailand)
Our Partner/Head of Corporate Secretarial and Business Assistance, Minidi Gamalath, together with Thivanka Hettiarachchi (Partner โ Dispute Resolution) and Anuji Jayatillake (Associate โ Corporate Secretarial and Business Assistance), will be in Bangkok, Thailand, attending the TerraLex Global Meeting, taking place from 19th โ 22nd November 2025. Featured highlights at the conference: * Our Founder-Managing Partner, Sudath Perera, will be interviewed by the Terralex Chair Derek Humphery-Smith on 21st November at 10.45 a.m., on his passion for photography and the parallels between advocacy and artistry. * On the same day, Minidi Gamalath will be contributing as a panelist at the 'Asia Pacific Showcase: Strategies for Diversification of Markets' session. Please reach out via minidi@spacorporateservices.com for meeting requests.
07 November 2025
PUMA strikes back at counterfeit trade in Sri Lanka
Continuing its global initiative to safeguard and enforce its trademark rights, PUMA SE (PUMA Group) has instituted legal proceedings before the Commercial High Court of Colombo under the provisions of Sri Lankaโs Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003. The proceedings were instituted against a group of alleged connected counterfeiters engaged in the footwear industry under several business names, whose products were found to feature marks deceptively similar to the registered PUMA trademarks exclusively owned by PUMA SE. Following the submissions advanced on behalf of the Plaintiff, the Court issued an Enjoining Order restraining the Defendant from manufacturing, offering for sale, distributing, promoting, or otherwise engaging in any dealings involving products carrying marks identical or confusingly similar to PUMAโs registered trademarks. PUMA SE was represented by firm's Lead Counsel Manoj Bandara, Nathaya Nanayakkara (Partner/Head of Brand Protection) and Gimhani Hettiarachchi (Associate).
03 November 2025
EโALERT: BILLS OF EXCHANGE (AMENDMENT) ACT, NO. 13 OF 2025
The Bills of Exchange (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2025 marks a significant development in SriLankaโs financial and commercial landscape. The amendment introduces criminal sanctions for dishonored cheques, recognises electronic transmission of negotiable instruments, and strengthens safeguards for #bankers and businesses through clearer rules on cheque crossing. These reforms modernise the Bills of Exchange framework after more than six decades, promoting greater accountability and facilitating digital efficiency in commercial transactions. Read our latest e-alert, prepared by Dushyantha Perera (Partner โ Head of Corporate & Commercial Law) and Chenelle Fernando (Associate โ Corporate & Commercial Law), for an in-depth analysis of the key changes and their practical impact.
21 October 2025
77th & 78th Council meetings of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association
Our Head of Intellectual Property, Himani Perera, and other partners from the firm's #IP Department, Chathurika Rupasinghe and Rajni Weeraarachchi, will be in Kuala Lumpur, attending the 77th & 78th Council meetings of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association taking place from 6th -10th November 2025. Please reach out to them via ipd@sudathpereraassociates.com for meeting requests.
20 October 2025
โจ Wishing You a Bright and Prosperous Deepavali โจ
As lights illuminate homes and hearts across the world, we at Sudath Perera Associates join in celebrating the spirit of Deepavali โ a festival of light, hope, and renewal. May this season inspire fresh beginnings, meaningful connections, and lasting success for you and your loved ones. Happy Deepavali from all of us. ๐ช
08 October 2025
The 38th LAWASIA Conference 2025 – 11th – 13th October
Hafsa Ifthikar and Nipuni Samarasekara, Partners in the firm's Corporate & Commercial Law Department, will be attending the 38th LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific) Conference 2025 in Vietnam, from 11th to 13th October. Please e-mail info@sudathpereraassociates.com or contact them directly to arrange any meetings.
08 October 2025
Appointed to the International Trademark Association (INTA) Committees 2026-2027
We are pleased to share that Rajni Weeraarachchi, Partner in our IP Department, has been appointed to the International Trademark Association (INTA) Committee on 'Trademark Office Practices', and Nathaya Nanayakkara, Partner in our BrandProtection Department, has been appointed to the #INTA 'Unreal Campaign' Committee, for the 2026-2027 term. The INTA 'Trademark Office Practices' Committee evaluates and recommends improvements to trademark office practices, procedures, operations and regulations, at the national, regional, and international levels. The INTA 'Unreal Campaign' Committee is a consumer awareness initiative to educate those aged 14 to 23 about the importance of trademarks and brands and the dangers of purchasing counterfeit products.