Trademarks in Sri Lanka

Competent Authority

Trademark registration in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is administered by the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka (NIPO), operating under the Ministry of Trade, located in Colombo. The official working languages are English, Sinhala, and Tamil, and the system is national.

International Agreements

Sri Lanka is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. However, Sri Lanka is not a party to the Madrid Agreement or the Madrid Protocol; therefore, international trademark registrations cannot be extended to Sri Lanka via the Madrid System, requiring direct national filings.

Who May Apply

Natural persons, corporate entities, partnerships, and institutions engaging in commercial or industrial activities may apply. Foreign applicants without a permanent residence or principal place of business in Sri Lanka are legally required to act through a registered local trademark agent or representative. A signed Power of Attorney (Form M1/Authorization of Agent) is required, which does not require consular legalization.

Online Filing and Search

Physical document submissions and administrative processing through NIPO in Colombo remain standard, alongside evolving digital tracking workflows. Preliminary availability and clearance searches of the national register can be conducted via NIPO records or cross-referenced with international platforms like the WIPO Global Brand Database.

Registrable Sign Types

Trademarks may comprise words, names, devices, logos, letters, numerals, tickets, labels, shapes, or combinations thereof capable of distinguishing goods or services. Non-English documents or terms in scripts other than the official languages require certified translations.

Classification

Sri Lanka follows the international Nice Classification system for the registration of goods and services. Multi-class applications are not permitted; a separate application must be filed for each individual class.

Examination

NIPO conducts a formal administrative examination for completeness, followed by a substantive examination covering absolute grounds for refusal (such as lack of distinctiveness) and relative grounds (conflicts with prior registered or pending marks on the national registry). Applicants are given statutory windows to respond in writing to any issued examination office actions.

Publication and Opposition

Applications that successfully pass substantive examination are published in the official NIPO Intellectual Property Journal / Government Gazette. Any interested third party may file a formal notice of opposition against the registration of the trademark within a strict statutory window of 3 months from the publication date.

Timelines

An unopposed standard trademark application typically takes an average of 12 to 24 months (and up to 36 months in complex or backlogged dockets) from initial filing to final registration certificate issuance.

Official Fees

Official state fees are denominated in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR / Rs) under statutory schedules set by NIPO regulations, covering single-class filing applications, publication steps, and final registration certificate issuances. Additional professional fees apply when retaining mandatory local agent services.

Protection Duration and Renewal

Trademark protection is valid for 10 years starting from the official application filing date. Registrations can be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods upon submitting a renewal request and paying the requisite fees within the final 12 months before expiration, backed by a statutory 6-month grace period subject to late surcharges.

Use Requirements

A registered trademark is vulnerable to cancellation or non-use revocation actions if it has not been put to genuine commercial use in Sri Lanka for a continuous statutory period. Sri Lanka operates primarily on a first-to-file priority framework, while recognizing certain protections for well-known marks.

Post-Registration Procedures

Post-registration modifications—including assignments, licensing agreements, changes of registrant name, or changes of address—must be formally recorded with NIPO to ensure full legal validity and enforceability against third parties.

Legal Remedies

Legal remedies include administrative cancellation proceedings before NIPO, civil infringement and passing-off lawsuits before competent courts seeking interim or permanent injunctions and financial damages, and border enforcement measures implemented by customs authorities to intercept counterfeit imports.

Country-Specific Risks and Practical Notes

Because Sri Lanka enforces a strict single-class application structure, operates outside the Madrid System, and requires local representation for foreign entities, brand owners must file independent class applications and budget for extended examination timelines spanning 1 to 2 years.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or consultation. To receive personalized and in-depth guidance tailored to your specific situation, we invite you to schedule a consultation.