Sri Lanka-USA Business Council to host breakfast forum on ‘The IP Trade Corridor’

• Initiative on Wednesday 22 July aimed at strengthening the US-Sri Lanka  economic partnership through intellectual property protection

The Sri Lanka-USA Business Council (SLUSABC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will host “The IP Trade Corridor - Strengthening US-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership through Intellectual Property Protection”, a breakfast forum on 22 July 2026 at Hilton Colombo Residences from 8.30 a.m. onwards.

The United States is Sri Lanka’s single largest export destination, and intellectual property (IP) has become an increasingly decisive factor in sustaining and deepening this trade and investment relationship. American brands entrust Sri Lankan manufacturers with proprietary designs; US technology companies license software across the country; and a growing number of Sri Lankan exporters, IT firms and creative businesses are building brands and innovations of their own that require protection in markets abroad. A credible, well-enforced IP regime is what converts trust into trade, investment and technology transfer.

The forum is the latest in the Council’s ongoing program of initiatives to deepen bilateral commercial ties, undertaken in collaboration with the US Embassy in Colombo. The session has been deliberately designed for a wide cross-section of the business community, not only legal practitioners and large corporates, but SMEs, exporters, manufacturers, technology and creative businesses, and entrepreneurs. It will move beyond legal theory to the practical questions businesses actually confront: how to register and defend a brand; what recourse is available when counterfeits surface in the market or at the border; what US buyers and investors expect of IP compliance; and how stronger IP protection translates into greater orders, investment and market access for Sri Lanka.

Addressing these questions will be a panel of unusual breadth, bringing the regulator, the enforcement authorities, industry, a leading US multinational and the legal profession to one table: National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) Director (Covering Duties) – Information and Examination Nalinda Atapattu, on the registration, examination and administration of IP rights; Criminal Investigation Department Woman Assistant Superintendent of Police M.P.N. Deepani Manike on the investigation and enforcement of IP offences; Sri Lanka Customs Consumer Protection Unit Deputy Superintendent Delusha Herath on border enforcement and combating counterfeit goods; Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Chairman – Logistics Sub-committee Sean Van Dort with the perspective of Sri Lanka’s largest export industry to the US; Microsoft Corporate Lead – Sri Lanka and Maldives Jiffry Ilham on intellectual property in the digital economy from the standpoint of a leading US multinational; and F J & G de Saram Junior Counsel Drushika Amirthanayagam on the legal framework governing IP protection in Sri Lanka.

The session will be moderated by Attorney-at-Law Nishan Premathiratne.

SLUSABC President Tilak Gunawardana said: “As Sri Lanka positions itself to attract greater U.S. investment and expand its exports of goods and services, demonstrating a credible, well-enforced IP regime is no longer optional – it is fundamental. We have brought the regulator, the enforcement agencies, industry and the legal profession to one table, to discuss not theory, but practice: what businesses actually face, and what can be done better.”

The forum is open to exporters, importers, manufacturers, professionals in the technology and creative industries, legal practitioners, and all businesses engaged in or aspiring to trade with the United States. 

Registrations may be made via https://event.chamber.lk/Details/Event/487 or by contacting the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 011 5588801 or [email protected].

The Daily FT is the Print Media Partner of the event.