News and insights
07 November 2026
๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ (๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ) ๐ฎ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐!
May this occasion bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to you and your loved ones. ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ/๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ! ๐ช
02 November 2026
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น: ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ
The proposed Sri Lanka Cricket Bill seeks to promote Sri Lanka Cricket through good governance, independence and accountability of cricket administration in SriLanka. Several distinguished former Sri Lankan cricketers, including ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฒ๐น ๐ง๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ, ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ, ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ, ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ธ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ and ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐บ๐๐ป๐ as well as the former Ceylon Cricketers ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐น๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ต๐ฒ and ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ and the members of the ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ intervened in the ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป proceedings looking into the Billโs constitutionality, supporting the proposed reforms. The intervening applications placed before the Court the perspectives of those who have represented Sri Lanka at the highest levels of the game. Submissions on their behalf emphasized the need for independent administration and structural reform, reflecting cricketโs national significance and the importance of safeguarding its future through good governance, transparency and accountability. Following three days of submissions, the Court concluded the hearing and indicated that its determination would be communicated to the Speaker of Parliament. Nine leading Presidentโs Counsel appeared for the intervening Petitioners, instructed by #SudathPereraAssociates. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKNZyyTd
02 November 2026
Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial Law, Dushyantha Perera, will be joining a panel of industry professionals for a programme organised by CFA Society Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Deloitte, focusing on the key concepts underpinning successful mergers & acquisitions.
Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial Law, Dushyantha Perera, will be joining a panel of industry professionals for a programme organised by CFA Society Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Deloitte, focusing on the key concepts underpinning successful mergers & acquisitions. The programme will cover M&A transaction structuring, legal, tax and financial due diligence, and the commercial and contractual considerations involved in executing successful transactions. Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026 Time: 8.30 a.m. โ 12.30 p.m. Venue: Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo City Centre For programme details and registration: https://lnkd.in/gZrbiJje
31 October 2026
Commercial High Court issues enjoining order in brand protection dispute
The Commercial High Court of the Western Province, Colombo, presided over by Viraj Ranatunge, H.C.J., issued an enjoining order on 13 October 2026 against Fumax Marketing Ltd., in proceedings instituted by Deen Brothers Imports Ltd., concerning the alleged use of confusingly similar product packaging and branding. The Plaintiff submitted that its brand has established substantial goodwill and reputation in the Sri Lankan market and benefits from intellectual property protection. It alleged that the Defendantโs products imitated its distinctive packaging and trade dress, potentially misleading consumers and constituting unfair competition and passing off. The Plaintiff was represented by Manoj Bandara, Attorney-at-Law, together with Jessica Abeyratne and Sapna Liyanage, Attorneys-at-Law, instructed by Sudath Perera Associates. Having considered the Plaintiffโs submissions, the Court ordered the issuance of enjoining orders restraining the Defendant from distributing products bearing the impugned packaging and from using confusingly similar trade dress, packaging and labels. The matter was fixed for 27 October 2026 for the return of notice and summons.
14 September 2026
๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป On 16 July 2026, Sudath Perera Associates, in partnership with the AmCham Sri Lanka, had the pleasure of hosting an informative and engaging programme focused on Intellectual Property Rights, Brand Protection and Brand Enforcement in SriLanka. The event brought together representatives from key enforcement authorities, brand owners from AMCHAM member organizations, industry stakeholders and legal professionals for a day of knowledge-sharing, practical discussions and real-world demonstrations. The panel discussion and interactive Q&A session provided a valuable platform for representatives from enforcement authorities, industry and the legal profession to exchange perspectives and discuss the practical challenges surrounding IP enforcement in Sri Lanka. We are especially grateful to the brand owners from AmCham member organizations who shared their expertise and practical knowledge throughout the programme. Their contributions provided valuable insight into the challenges faced by rights holders and the importance of effective collaboration in protecting brands and consumers. We also extend our appreciation to AmCham Sri Lanka, the participating government authorities, industry representatives, legal professionals and all attendees for their valuable contributions and for making the programme a successful and highly informative event. At ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, we remain committed to contributing to stronger intellectual property protection in Sri Lanka through collaboration, knowledge-sharing and practical engagement. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event a success.
09 September 2026
๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎโ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ (๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ) ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ผ. ๐ญ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐.
๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎโ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ (๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ) ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ก๐ผ. ๐ญ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐. In particular, the new regulations introduce changes to the framework governing overseas investments by SriLankan investors, including revisions to the scope and limits of permitted investments, as well as enhanced reporting and compliance requirements. ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฒ-๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, prepared by Hafsa Ifthikar (Partner - Corporate & Commercial Law) and Senalka De Silva (Associate - Corporate & Commercial Law), for an overview of these key developments and their implications for investors and businesses in SL.
08 September 2026
Nipuni Samarasekara, Partner in the firmโs Corporate & Commercial Law Department, will be attending the 39th LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific) Conference 2026 in Seoul, SouthKorea, from 14th to 16th September.
Nipuni Samarasekara, Partner in the firmโs Corporate & Commercial Law Department, will be attending the 39th LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific) Conference 2026 in Seoul, SouthKorea, from 14th to 16th September. She will also be a speaker on the panel for the session 'Corporate Securities and Investment', on 15th September. Please e-mail nipuni@sudathpereraassociates.com, ccldepartment@sudathpereraassociates.com, or DM her, to arrange a meeting.
30 June 2026
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ (๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ)
At ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, we believe that strong teams are built not only through the work we do together, but also through the experiences we share. From 27 to 29 June 2026, our lawyers, professional staff and their families came together for our annual Firm Retreat, '๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ (๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ)', at the beautiful ๐๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ in Sigiriya, SriLanka. With almost 200 partners, employees and family members in attendance, the retreat was filled with memorable experiences - from trekking the iconic ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ and ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ, to a safari at ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ, a mixed teams ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, a '๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐' & ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐, and a final ๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ celebrating the people who make our firm what it is. The retreat also served as a fitting early celebration of a significant milestone for the firm. On ๐ฑ ๐๐๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ, Sudath Perera Associates marked its ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ต ๐๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, making the occasion even more special as we reflected on our journey, celebrated our achievements, and looked forward to the future together. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make this year's retreat such a memorable occasion. Here's to strengthening friendships, celebrating teamwork, and creating lasting memories together!
17 July 2026
EโALERT: RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIAL IMPORT LICENCE AND PAYMENT REGULATIONS NO. 1 OF 2011
On 18 June 2026, Extraordinary Gazette No. 2493/39 was published under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 (as amended) of Sri Lanka, introducing the Imports and Exports (Control) Regulations No. 06 of 2026 and thereby amending the Special Import Licence and Payment Regulations No. 1 of 2011. The amendments introduce new controls on import transactions by imposing reporting obligations on commercial banks, requiring importers to be registered with the Sri Lanka Customs Department prior to effecting advance payments for imports, and preventing commercial banks from processing such advance payments unless the relevant importer is duly registered. Read our latest e-alert, prepared by Dushyantha Perera (Partner - Head of Corporate & Commercial Law) and Lakna Ukwatta (Senior Associate), for a brief overview of these amendments and their implications for importers and commercial banks in SL.
21 May 2026
BRIEFING NOTE: INTRODUCTION OF A MANDATORY UBO DISCLOSURE FRAMEWORK IN SRI LANKA PRACTICAL COMPLIANCE GUIDE
๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ฎ's ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ '๐จ๐น๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ข๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ' (๐จ๐๐ข) ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น, marking a significant development in the countryโs corporate transparency and compliance landscape. Our latest briefing note, prepared by Minidi Gamalath (Partner/Head Company Secretary) and Anuji Jayatillake (Senior Associate) of SPA Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, provides a practical and detailed guide to the new UBO disclosure requirements, key filing deadlines, and immediate compliance steps for companies operating in SL. For further information, please contact Minidi, Anuji, your usual contact at Sudath Perera Associates, or SPA Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd.