Thursday Jul 23, 2026
Thursday Jul 23, 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved safeguarding the historical, cultural, and traditional intellectual property of the Kandy Esala Perahera, one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned cultural festivals.
The initiative aligns with the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) project titled “Promoting Festival Tourism Development through Intellectual Property”, which aims to strengthen the capacity of cultural festival organisers to use intellectual property rights in tourism development while respecting traditions and heritage.
It was approved to appoint a committee comprising all relevant parties under the co-partnership of the Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Minister and Buddhism, Religious Affairs, and Cultural Affairs Minister to prepare and submit the relevant project proposal aimed at protecting intellectual property rights of the historical, cultural, and traditional identity and values of Kandy Esala Perahera, with special attention toward ‘Protection of Publication Rights’ and ‘Trademarks and Brand Names’.
The committee comprising all relevant stakeholders will be appointed to oversee the process, to strengthen both festival tourism and the protection of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage on the global stage.
The Esala Perahera, rooted in centuriesold art forms and knowledge, has been identified as suitable for submission under this program.
“Special focus will be placed on copyright protection and trademarks and branding to preserve the festival’s unique identity,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said, at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.
He said the objective of this project is to increase the capacity of cultural festival organisers in the beneficiary countries to use intellectual property rights for the development of festival tourism, while respecting local traditions and cultural heritage.
