News and insights
25 July 2026
๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ป-๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น, Manoj Bandara, ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ.
๐ง๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ป-๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น, Manoj Bandara, ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ. Marking the occasion, our Founder-Managing Partner, Sudath Perera, shared his congratulations: "๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ง๐ช๐ณ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด. ๐๐ช๐ด ๐ด๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต, ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ง๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฎ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ญ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ท๐ข๐ญ๐ถ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ. ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ด๐ช๐จ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ."
24 July 2026
Sri Lanka’s Data Privacy Framework Update
Thereโs been a significant development in the data privacy framework in SriLanka. The President (in his capacity as Minister of Digital Economy) declared, by gazette notification No. 2498/16 - 22nd July 2026) that Sections 2, Section 3, Part I (Processing of Personal Data) and Part III (Controllers & Processors) of the Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 (as amended) (โPDPAโ), will come into force on 1st January 2027. The result is that controllers and processors will soon be subject to legally enforceable obligations relating to the collection, processing, disclosure and governance of personal data, while the Data Protection Authority of Sri Lanka (DPA), already operational under Part V (bought into operation in July 2023), will be able to exercise its supervisory and enforcement functions. However, Part II (Rights of Data Subjects) is yet to be brought into force, meaning statutory rights of data subjects such as access, rectification, erasure, objection and appeal to the DPA are not yet enforceable. Likewise, Part IV, which regulates the dissemination of solicited messages, has also not yet been brought into operation. So, this development 'appears' to create an interesting and somewhat unusual compliance/enforcement landscape. While the DPA can potentially inquire into and issue directives regarding failures by controllers and processors to comply with obligations under Part I or III (which include complying with the data processing obligations, appointing DPO (where required) and notifying data breaches, pursuant to its rights under section 35 of the PDPA (and this can potentially extend to awarding compensation to persons who have suffered harm, loss or damage due to contraventions of the relevant provisions by controllers/processors), because Part II is not in force, it doesnโt extend to the statutory rights of data subjects under that part of the Act. Part VII (Penalties) has also not as yet been brought into force, which means that while compensation can potentially be awarded, the DPA will not have the power to impose administrative penalties on non-compliant organizations (i.e., from 1st Jan 2027). This incremental/staggered approach to implementation of the Act does, however, make sense and is commendable. Organizations (controllers and processors) now have a legally binding obligation to start establishing their privacy compliance frameworks, as come the new year, they will potentially be in violation of SL's generally applicable data protection law if they do not. However, deferring the imposition of data subject rights to a later date, allows such organizations to first establish and become conversant with such frameworks, before they become exposed to data subject claims. Sudath Perera Associates will be issuing an e-alert in due course. For the moment, take these as initial personal comments/views (made on a Saturday morning, before my 2nd coffee).
24 July 2026
Japanโs NGK secures success in brand protection case in SL
Japanese automotive giant Niterra Co. Ltd., the proprietor of the NGK brand (with Douglas and Sons Ltd being its sole authorised agent for NGK spark plugs in Sri Lanka), recently pursued criminal action directly against several wholesale entities including Sajana Motors, involved in selling and possessing counterfeit NGK-branded spark plugs in Sri Lanka. As a result, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) conducted criminal raid operations against the said spark plug dealer located in Horana, following complaints filed by Niterra Co. through their local legal representatives, Sudath Perera Associates. Based on applications submitted by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), the Horana Magistrate issued a search warrant against the entities, causing the seizure of counterfeit NGK products displaying registered logos and trademarks. Subsequently, the raid executed at the said infringing entity was carried out, and the CCD was able to seize and take into custody a large volume of counterfeit NGK branded spark plugs which were in the possession of the aforementioned accused entity, which were manufactured and/or sourced through illegal channels and suspected to be utilised to package and sell counterfeit products under the disguise of genuine NGK spark plugs. The sale of and dealing in counterfeit products is a strict violation and a criminal offense under the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2006. Counterfeit products pose a major threat not only to the legitimate brand owners but also to the unsuspecting consumers as well. While this unlawful and/or illegal conduct causes substantial damage, reputation, and economic loss to the brand owners, it also poses severe safety issues to the unsuspecting consumers. As these counterfeit products are related to vehicle engines, there is a grave concern of consumer safety and road safety when unsuspecting consumers use these counterfeit products, as there is no assurance that these products are manufactured adhering to the quality and safety standards pertaining to the safe functioning of motor vehicles, especially considering the growing number of motor vehicle accidents recorded in Sri Lanka presently. Furthermore, such counterfeit products also present negative results to all other stakeholders from lost taxes to the Government, royalties and other revenues, loss of goodwill and reputation and reduced incentive to innovate and invest, hence it is therefore fundamental that steps are taken to enforce the laws to protect intellectual property rights to safeguard brand owners as well as the consumers. The suspect pleaded guilty and was fined Rs. 250,000 by the Magistrate of Horana. A court order was also issued for the destruction of the counterfeit products seized during the raid.
01 July 2026
Raids uncover suspected counterfeit engine oil operations
Counterfeit products are more than an intellectualproperty issue - they pose serious risks to consumers, businesses, and the environment. In the case of counterfeit lubricants, the consequences can include engine damage, increased emissions, costly repairs, and compromised vehicle safety, while also undermining the reputation of legitimate brands. A coordinated anti-counterfeiting operation led by the ๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐บ๐ฏ๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป (CCD), acting on a complaint made on behalf of one of the world's leading energy companies through its local legal representatives, ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, resulted in the seizure of suspected counterfeit engine oil bearing the Caltex and Delo brands from multiple locations in Mawanella and Kegalle. The operation demonstrates the importance of effective collaboration between brand owners, law enforcement authorities, and legal professionals in combating IP crime. Such enforcement efforts are essential not only to protect valuable intellectual property rights but also to safeguard consumers, preserve fair competition, and uphold the integrity of the marketplace. ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ'๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐, ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด.
31 May 2026
โ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ข ๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ถ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ขโ โ May all beings be happy.
As Sri Lanka commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing ('Parinirvana') of the Buddha, may we reflect on the values of compassion, wisdom, and loving-kindness that continue to inspire millions around the world. โ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ข ๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ถ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ขโ โ May all beings be happy. May this Vesak bring peace, understanding, and well-being to you and your loved ones. ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐.
21 May 2026
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.
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 SudathPereraAssociates, or SPA Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd.
04 May 2026
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐.
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐. Please join us in congratulating: โข Eresha Weerasuriya โ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ (๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐) โข Lakna Ukwatta โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐) โข Dulmini Gamage โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐) โข Anuji Jayatillake โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐) โข Kasuni Ranaweera โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป) โข Madhubhashani Dissanayake โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป) โข Lakshani Perera โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ (๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป) โข Dinushi Ranasinghe โ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ (๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐) We are proud to recognise their contributions and look forward to their continued role in driving the firm forward.
29 April 2026
International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting from 2nd – 8th May 2026
Our Founder-Managing Partner, Sudath Perera, will be in London for the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting from 2nd - 8th May 2026. Please reach out to Sudath directly, or email info@sudathpereraassociates.com for meeting requests.
13 April 2026
Sudath Perera Associates wishes you a joyous and prosperous Sinhala & Tamil New Year.
Sudath Perera Associates wishes you a joyous and prosperous Sinhala & Tamil New Year. May Avurudu (Sinhalese) / Puthandu (Tamil) bring renewed beginnings, continued success, and prosperity in the year ahead.
12 April 2026
Sudath Perera, the firm’s Founder-Managing Partner, will be attending the React AGM 2026, taking place on 16th โ 17th April 2026 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Sudath Perera, the firm's Founder-Managing Partner, will be attending the React AGM 2026, taking place on 16th โ 17th April 2026 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Please feel free to reach out to Sudath directly, or email info@sudathpereraassociates.com, to coordinate meetings.