News and insights
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.
24 June 2026
EโALERT: RE-ACTIVATION OF THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ACT 2008, AND THE 2026 PROJECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & TAX CONCESSIONS REGULATIONS
On 8 February 2026, the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2474/66 was published under the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008 (as amended), introducing the 2026 project eligibility criteria & tax concessions regulations and formally re-activating the 'Strategic Development Projects' ("SDPs") incentive regime in SriLanka. The regulations, together with the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2025, introduce a more structured framework for identifying SDPs, including sector-specific eligibility criteria, minimum investment and employment thresholds, enhanced BOI oversight, and standardised fiscal incentives, including CIT holidays and exemptions from customs duties, VAT, PAL and CESS. Read our latest e-alert, prepared by Dushyantha Perera (Partner - Head of Corporate & Commercial Law) and Pamodi Pathirage (Associate), for an overview of these developments and their implications for investors and businesses in SL.
26 June 2026
EโALERT: RESTRICTIONS ON OUTWARD REMITTANCES FOR CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
On 18 December 2025, the Minister of Finance issued a new Order under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017, continuing restrictions on outward remittances for capital transactions by persons resident in SriLanka. The Order maintains restrictions on remittances through Outward Investment Accounts (OIA), while revising limits for overseas investments and increasing thresholds for remittances through Business Foreign Currency Accounts (BFCA) and Personal Foreign Currency Accounts (PFCA). Read our latest e-alert, prepared by Hafsa Ifthikar (Partner - Corporate & Commercial Law) and Sithma Emmanuel (Associate - Corporate & Commercial Law), for a brief overview of these developments and their implications for investors and businesses in SL. For further details, please refer to the full e-alert:
22 April 2026
Marking World IP Day 2026 | IP and Sports: Ready. Set. Innovate.
Marking World IP Day 2026 | IP and Sports: Ready. Set. Innovate.
28 March 2026
EโALERT: RECENT AMENDMENTS TO THE COLOMBO PORT CITY LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
On 20 January 2026, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Act, No. 01 of 2026 was enacted, introducing significant changes to the legal and regulatory framework governing the ColomboPortCity Special Economic Zone. The amendments, together with the 2025 BSI Regulations and newly issued Community Rules, recalibrate the Port City incentives regime, narrowing tax exemptions, introducing tiered and quantifiable thresholds for 'Businesses of Strategic Importance' (BSIs), strengthening performance monitoring and fiscal oversight, and aligning offshorebanking activities more closely with CentralBank (CBSL) supervision and SriLankaโs broader hashtag#exchangecontrol framework. Read our latest e-alert, prepared by Dushyantha Perera (Partner - Head of Corporate & Commercial Law), Chenelle Fernando (Associate) and Pamodi Pathirage (Associate), for a detailed and critical analysis of these changes and their implications for investors and businesses operating in and from the Port City SEZ. Refer to our website (https://lnkd.in/gjn6N45A) for the firmโs other briefing notes and e-alerts on the evolving Colombo Port City framework.