Dilani Hirimuthugodage
Apr 26, 2023

Cracking the Code: Why Women’s Innovations are Lagging Behind in Sri Lanka

Despite nearly 50% of researchers in Sri Lanka being female, only 8% of patent applications issued were from women in the past five years. Many female innovators are unwilling to obtain Intellectual Property (IP) protection and commercialise their innovations for various reasons. One of the significant issues is the insufficient understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and their application. Given that this year’s World IP Day, observed on April 26, focuses on “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity”, it is timely to explore the state of women’s innovations in Sri Lanka and consider possible strategies to promote better IP protection for women’s creativity and innovations.

Apr 25, 2021

Creating a Culture of Creativity: The Importance of Intellectual Property Rights

The World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO) marks IP day under specific themes, and this year, it focuses on creativity in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in bringing ideas to the market. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) including copyrights, trademarks, Geographical Indications (GI), patents, and sui generis systems are important in protecting and fostering creativity. This blog highlights the importance of IPRs for Sri Lanka’s creative industries and offers strategies to build stronger, more competitive and resilient businesses.

Nov 23, 2020

The COVID-19 Crisis and Innovation: Why Intellectual Property Rights Matter

This blog highlights the importance of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the commercialisation process and suggests some strategies to advance the commercialisation process in Sri Lanka.

Sep 23, 2020

Smoked Out: Why the Sale of Single Stick Cigarettes Must Be Banned

This month, the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) announced the drafting of legislation to ban the sale of single cigarettes. It is a welcome move given that Sri Lanka lags behind 107 countries that have banned the sale of single stick cigarettes. This blog explains why the sale of single cigarettes must be banned without any further delay.

Sep 18, 2019

Who Owns What? Is Sri Lanka’s IPR Regime Ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

During the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), technology and innovations are at an increased risk of falling victim to Intellectual Property (IP) right violations, due to their important role in wealth creation and socio-political stability. As such, the development of comprehensive regulatory systems, inclusive of intellectual property (IP) protection, is crucial in this era, argues Dilani Hirimuthugodage.

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