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Sri Lanka Trademark Registration with Corpbiz- An Overview

Sri Lanka trademark registration is a process that enables foreign entrepreneurs to protect their brand identity in the country. The TM authority entitles them to file lawsuits and obtain monetary claims against the unlawful use of their registered brands.

A trademark is valid for 10 years after registration with the National Institute Property Office (NIPO). With its large market in tea, spices, low-cost garments, and gems, foreigners looking to expand their business must register a trademark in Sri Lanka.

With Corpbiz’s expert guidance and assistance, you can easily:

  • Appoint a legal representative, such as an IPR attorney or registered agent.
  • Prepare complete documentation.
  • Search the TM in the Sri Lankan national trademark database.
  • Apply for a trademark – fully online.
  • Send replies and answer queries through legal support.
  • File opposition and rectification applications against wrongful registrations/applications.
  • Send legal notices and file lawsuits against infringements.
  • Draft licensing and assignment agreements.
  • Renew the TM before expiration.
  • Notify the TM authority of new developments regarding the registered brand.
  • File for international TM registration in top countries, including the US, China, Germany, India, the UK, Brazil, and Japan.
Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka
Trademark  Registration Registration process in The USA

What is a Trademark in Sri Lanka?

A trademark is an identifiable design, logo, word, pattern, symbol, colour, shape, or combination thereof that represents a product or service. A registered TM legally separates its brand from others in the market, helping customers and stakeholders differentiate it from unregistered goods and services.

The trademark owner gets exclusive rights to use the brand and is legally entitled to use the “®” symbol for its registered products and services.

Benefits of Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

WDiscover the benefits of trademark registration in Sri Lanka, including exclusive rights, brand recognition, and enhanced customer trust.

Benefits of Dubai Trademark Registration
Legal Enforcement

Basis for International Trademark Registration

If you already have an application pending in a foreign country, then you can apply for Sri Lanka trademark registration through the Paris Convention by taking the priority advantage within six months of that filing.

Enhanced Brand Value

Competitive Advantage

A registered trademark provides a certain degree of edge over competitors in the market. Customers and investors trust a product and/or service that is authentic and reliable. It also deters third parties from unlawful use of a trademark.

Potential for Global Exposure

Licensing Opportunities

As a trademark owner, you can easily license your registered brand through a legally binding agreement to an authorized third party. By licensing your brands, you allow a third party to legally use the exclusive rights to your brand, generating business revenue.

Border Control

Access to Funds

With trademark registration in Sri Lanka, you can demonstrate your genuine brand identity and obtain and raise capital and funds. Credit and financial companies are more likely to provide loans to registered brands compared to others.

Customer Preference

Legal Enforcement

After Sri Lanka trademark registration, you’re entitled to take action against counterfeiters and copycats who use your brand identity without proper authorization. You can file lawsuits and take injunctions against them.

Licensing & Franchising

Customs Assistance

Registered trademark holders can take the Sri Lanka Customs Authority’s assistance to restrict and prevent the flow of counterfeit products in and out of the country. This practice also sets a deterrence to the unlawful transport of branded goods.  

Criteria for Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

Check out the basic requirements and criteria for trademark registration in Sri Lanka as mentioned below:

  • The applicant must conduct a thorough search before formally applying for registration.
  • As a foreign applicant, you must assign a local IPR agent/attorney.
  • The proposed mark must be distinct and shouldn’t resemble in any way an already registered mark.
  • The application form must be filed in BLOCK CAPITALS with authorized signatures of the proposed owner.
  • The applicant must provide two copies of the mark in the 10cm x 10cm format.
  • Your proposal shouldn’t mislead or confuse the public against a well-known mark.
  • The TM shouldn’t be against the moral or legal policy of Sri Lanka.
  • If you’re filing on a priority basis, then you must do so within three months of your previous application.
  • All documents must be translated into Sinhala.
  • The products and services must be classified as per the Nice Agreement’s classification.

Checklist: Who Can Register a Trademark in Sri Lanka?

All natural and artificial persons can register a trademark in Sri Lanka.

    • Entrepreneurs
    • Startups
    • Sole proprietors
    • Partnership firms
    • Associations and trusts
    • Limited liability companies
Checklist for Trademark Registration in Dubai
Documents for Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

Documents for Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

The documents needed for trademark registration in Sri Lanka are as follows:

  • Trademark application form
  • ID proof of the applicant
  • Two graphical representations of the proposed mark
  • If applying for a colour mark, then the applicant must provide the said colour representation
  • A summary of the trademark
  • Identification of the registered IPR agent or attorney based in Sri Lanka
  • A copy of the original Sri Lanka company registration certificate/partnership deed/or an equivalent document
  • A power of attorney is required for filing the application through an attorney
  • A comprehensive list of products and services that the applicant wants covered under the proposed mark, as per the Nice Classification
  • A priority declaration if you’re filing on the basis of a previous application in a WTO member country/Paris Convention
  • A fee confirmation receipt for trademark registration in Sri Lanka
  • The company’s or firm’s director or partner's signature with the entity/firm’s official seal

Symbols for Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

Understand the difference between symbols for trademark registration in Sri Lanka if you’re interested in protecting your distinct brand identity.

TM Symbol ()

This symbol is used for unregistered products by individuals or companies with pending applications/rejections. There are no legal benefits to this mark because of the lack of registration status.

R Symbol (®)

The “®” mark is only reserved for registered brands, including products and services. Any unlawful use of this symbol attracts both civil and criminal liabilities.

SM Symbol ()

This symbol is used for services. Just like a TM mark, an SM mark doesn’t warrant any type of protection against brand abuse through infringement and forgery.

How to Register a Trademark in Sri Lanka with Corpbiz?

Explore the process to register a trademark in Sri Lanka with Corpbiz as explained below:

Pre-Filing Search

Appointment of Local Agent

The first step is to hire a legal representative. We have a network of over 100 authorized local agents in Sri Lanka. Your agent will be responsible for representing you before the TM authority.

Trademark Search

Our IPR attorneys will perform a trademark search to ensure we don’t register a TM that is similar or identical to an already registered trademark.

Classification of Goods & Services

We’ll make a detailed list of all the goods and services as per the Nice Classification (NCL).

Application Filing

Our IPR consultants will apply for trademark registration in Sri Lanka with mandatory documents, including your ID & local agent, power of attorney, list of goods and services, and an image of the TM.

Examination of Application

Sri Lanka's trademark authority will examine your application on absolute and relative grounds, including the distinctness of the mark and registrability. The authority will also check it against their database.

Rejection & Action (Optional)

If your application is rejected, then we’ll immediately notify you and file the counterstatement as per your instructions within the prescribed timeline.

Publication in the Gazette

Once the authority approves the application, they’ll publish it on their official gazette for three months to invite third-party opposition.

Opposition Against Application (If Any)

If anybody files an objection against your application, then we’ll forward the authority’s reply to you and file the counterstatement on your behalf.  

Issuance of Certificate of Registration

If nobody files an objection against your application, then the Sri Lankan trademark authority will approve your registration and issue the certificate of registration.  

Common Classes for Sri Lanka TM Registration

The commonly opted classes for Sri Lanka TM registration are as follows:

class 3

Cosmetics & Cleaning Products

  • Personal care and non-medicated beauty products
  • Perfumes and deodorants
  • Detergents and other laundry preparations

class 5

Pharmaceutical

  • Drugs manufacturing
  • Veterinary preparations
  • Dietetic foods and medicines
  • Sanitary products
  • Pest control substances

class 25

Clothing, Footwear, and Headgear

  • Inner and outer wear, excluding medical scrubs or clothes for surgical purposes
  • Shoes, heels, boots, and slippers
  • Hats, caps, and helmets

class 29

Preserved and Frozen Food

  • Ready-to-eat products
  • Fish, poultry, and meat
  • Pre-cooked fruits and vegetables
  • Jams and jellies
  • Milk, butter, cheese, curd, and yogurt

Class 30

Food Items

  • Coffee, tea, cocoa
  • Rice, flour, bread, pasta, and pastries
  • Salt, spices, and sauces

Class 32

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

  • Soft drinks and mineral water
  • Fruit juices, energy drinks, and sports drinks
  • Fermented non-alcoholic drinks
  • Isotonic and plant-based beverages, excluding milk alternatives

Class 35

Advertising & Business Management

  • Consultancies and administration services
  • Marketing agencies and research activities

Class 41

Entertainment & Education

  • Motion pictures, TV shows, web series
  • Streaming and music platforms
  • E-learning platforms for digital education

Class 43

Hotels & Accommodation

  • Catering, restaurants, and food delivery services
  • Hotels, resorts, and hostels

Businesses That Must Register a Trademark in Sri Lanka

Scroll down and find out what type of businesses must register a trademark in Sri Lanka:

Top Industries for Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

  • IT
  • Manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Logistics
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
  • Jewelry
  • Textile
  • Tea & Rubber

Top Businesses for Sri Lanka TM Registration

  • BPO & KPO Services
  • Rubber and Tyre Exporters
  • Drug Manufacturing & Foreign Trade
  • Freight Forwarding and Warehouse Storage Facility
  • Coconut and Spice Exports
  • Hotels, Resorts, and Online Travel Bookings
  • Gemstones and Jewellery Exporters
  • Cloth/Apparel Manufacturing
  • Tea and Rubber Producers

Types of Trademarks for Sri Lanka TM Registration

There are various types of trademarks for Sri Lanka TM registration, including individual, collective, and certification trademarks.

Word

Word

This trademark consists of words, names, numbers, letters, or a phrase without any graphical elements.

Logo

Symbols/Logos

Under this category, you can apply for trademark registration in Sri Lanka for a design, image, logo, or stylized symbol.

Logo

Shapes

A three-dimensional (3D) trademark can be a product or the packaging of a product.

Motion

Color

This trademark is registered to protect a specific colour or a combination of colours. An example includes Tiffany’s Blue on its packaging.

Logo

Combination

A combination of textual and graphical elements, including words or letters with images or logos.

Color

Certification

A certification trademark certifies a product based on its origin, quality, or manufacturing process.

Sound

Collective

A collective trademark consists of registered brands that are associated with an organization/association that wants customers to know their affiliation with the brand.

Features of Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

Features of trademark registration in Sri Lanka include long-term protection, security against counterfeiters, and business expansion.

Features of Trademark Registration in Dubai
    • A Sri Lanka TM registration is valid for 10 years from registration. It can be renewed by the owner for the subsequent 10 years at a renewal fee.
    • The trademark authority will cancel a registration if it is not used for five continuous years from registration upon an application.
    • The Sri Lanka trademark registration mandates a legal representation for foreign applicants.
    • The Nice Classification is used for the classification of goods and services. Class 1-34 for goods and 35-45 for services.
    • Priority-based applications are processed if the applicant has filed for TM within six months of their application in another country through the Paris Convention or WTO membership.
    • The translation of the priority document is filed within three months of the application before the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO).
    • The opposition window is open for 12 weeks after the publication in the official trademark journal.
    • Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Madrid Protocol, so all international TM applications are filed through individual countries' Trademark offices.
    • The applications are filed on a “first-to-file” basis, meaning the first individual/entity will get preference if they’ve a prior filing date.
    • Sri Lanka only allows single-class application filing, meaning you need to file separate applications for every additional class that you want covered under your TM.

Compliance After Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

Find out how Corpbiz will help you with compliance obligations after trademark registration in Sri Lanka, as described below:

Trademark Monitoring

Trademark Renewal

We’ll remind you to provide your consent for the renewal of TM registration in Sri Lanka during the last six months of the current validity before expiration.

File Oppositions

Compliance With the Sri Lanka Trademark Authority

If there’s any change in the ownership or list of products/services of your registered brand, then we’ll help you notify the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO).

Maintain Usage

Constant Monitoring

To prevent any trademark infringements, we’ll monitor various databases, social media, web domains, and online marketplaces.

Register with Dubai & UAE Customs

Filing Oppositions & Rectifications

Our IPR consultants/local agents will file oppositions and rectification applications before the Sri Lanka TM authority in case anybody attempts to/register a similar mark as yours.

Renewal

Licensing Agreement Drafting

If you decide to license your registered brand, then our lawyers will draft an agreement between you and the other party, detailing the responsibilities of both the licensor and licensee.

International Trademark Registration

Trademark Assignment

In case you ever decide to transfer your Sri Lanka TM registration rights, then we’ll draft an assignment agreement on your behalf, demonstrating the said transfer.

International Trademark Registration

Usage Register Maintenance

If you don’t use your trademark registration in Sri Lanka, then the authority will cancel your registered brand. To prevent this, we’ll help you document the sales invoices, advertising activities, and product packaging.

International Trademark Registration

International TM Registration

After Sri Lanka trademark registration, we’ll help you globally expand your brand in top economies, including the USA, China, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, and Brazil. Since Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Madrid Protocol, we’ll have to individually apply to each foreign jurisdiction.

International Trademark Registration

Trademark Enforcement

If a third-party or competitor is found to be using your brand identity without proper authorization, then we’ll file a lawsuit against them on your behalf.

Renewal of Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

A trademark must be renewed within the last 6 months of the ongoing trademark registration in Sri Lanka.

  • The cost to renew the Sri Lanka TM registration is USD 60 per class of goods/services.
  • If you don’t renew it before the end of your ongoing validity, the authority will charge an additional surcharge of USD 20 per class, provided you renew within the following six months.
  • If you fail to renew your registered brand in the 6-month grace period, the authority will cancel your registration.
  • The renewal must be done in person via a legal representative along with a power of attorney (POA), a copy of the original certificate, and a list of goods/services.
Registered trademark in The Dubai

Why Trust Corpbiz for Sri Lanka Trademark Registration?

Full Client Support

Fully Remote

Even though the Sri Lanka TM registration isn’t a complete online process, our professionals will ensure success on your behalf. You don’t need to visit any government office.

EMI Facility Available

Team of 200+ Attorneys

Our team of over 200 IPR lawyers will complete all the documentation, answer your legal queries, and represent you before a court of law, if required.

Available 24/7 – Anytime, Anywhere

No Additional Charges

We have no hidden costs- our fee structure is transparent, just like our policies for trademark registration in Sri Lanka.

No Hidden Charges Ever

EMI Available

Avail our services anytime at the best EMI rates with leading banks.

Live Tracking

End-to-End Support

From TM search & application to final approval and post-compliance, our specialized IPR consultants are there for you every step of the way to success.

FAQs on Trademark Registration in Sri Lanka

No, trademarks in Sri Lanka can’t be filed online, which is where consultancies like us come into the picture. We’ll only equip you with an authorized agent who will visit the TM office in person to conduct the trademark search and submit the application with mandatory documents.

The key reasons to apply for trademark registration in Sri Lanka are as follows:
  • A registered TM provides the exclusive right to use, sell, license, and transfer the brand.
  • It helps trademark owners to increase their business revenue.
  • A registered trademark helps you gain and build the trust of employees and investors.
  • It sets the basis for international registration on a priority basis.
  • After Sri Lanka TM registration, you can enhance the value of your brand.
  • The cost to register a trademark in Sri Lanka is USD 15, which is relatively low compared to fees in the USA, China, Germany, and other EU nations.

The National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) is the main trademark agency, which governs the registration, oppositions, and rectifications of all types of IPRs in Sri Lanka.

The Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003 is the main legislation that enforces IPR rights, including trademark registration in Sri Lanka.

A trademark registered in Sri Lanka is valid for 10 years from the official date of registration with the trademark authority.  

The various categories of Sri Lanka TMs are as follows:
  • Word
  • Numbers
  • Slogan
  • Logo/Picture
  • Design/Symbol
  • Combination
  • Color
  • Collective
  • Certification

The Sri Lanka trademark registration fee structure per class of goods/services is as follows:
  • Individuals/entrepreneurs: USD 5
  • Companies/partnerships/associations: USD 15

Yes, foreigners can apply for a trademark in Sri Lanka, provided they appoint a legal representative with residence in the country who will fulfil all the compliance requirements on their behalf.

The step-by-step procedure for Sri Lanka trademark registration is as follows:
  • The first step is to appoint a local representative, namely an IPR attorney and agent.
  • The agent will conduct a TM search in person with the NIPO authority.
  • Followed by a comprehensive classification of products and services as per the Nice Agreement.
  • Then, the filing of applications and mandatory documents by the representative to the authority in Sri Lanka.
  • The authority will evaluate your application against its database and verify the basic details.
  • If the Sri Lanka trademark authority has any questions, they’ll send their queries through your representative, which must be answered within the prescribed deadlines.
  • If your application is successfully verified and approved, the authority will publish it in its trademark journal.
  • The general public will then have a window to file objections within three months of the said publication.
  • If nobody files an objection within the 12-week period, the authority will proceed to register your trademark and issue the registration certificate.

The schedule for trademark registration in Sri Lanka is as follows:
  • Local Agent appointment: 1 day
  • Name search: 1 to 2 days
  • Classification of goods and services: 1 day
  • Preparation of documents: 1 to 2 days
  • Application Filing: 1 day
  • Examination by the authority: 6 to 7 months
  • Opposition period: 3 months
  • Approval and final grant of certificate: 8 weeks

If you already have a pending application in a foreign jurisdiction, then you can claim priority on your current trademark registration in Sri Lanka.

Yes, all foreign applicants must submit a power of attorney authorizing your local agent to represent them before the Sri Lanka trademark authority.

Go through the following list of restricted terms, words, or logos for Sri Lanka trademark registration:
  • Anything that is against the law and order of the country.
  • Generic and descriptive terms shouldn’t be trademarked.
  • National flags and emblems of Sri Lanka can be registered as a TM.
  • Identical or similar marks of an already registered trademark.
  • A trademark that is registered to mislead the public about an already registered mark.

No, you don’t need to prove any prior use because Sri Lanka follows the “first to file” principle for trademark registration. This means that foreign entrepreneurs who are first to apply for registration will get priority over those with a previous use in trade.  

All registered trademarks must be used for five continuous years from registration to avoid cancellation by the authority on the grounds of non-usage.

Yes, the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) facilitates the renewal of a trademark after the expiration of its current validity within the next succeeding 6-month period.

The Sri Lanka trademark authority provides a 12-week objection window, which allows third parties to file oppositions against the registration of a newly published TM.

No, currently, Sri Lanka doesn’t have the multi-class filing rule for trademark applications. Applicants are required to file a separate application for each additional class.

If you’ve received an objection for trademark registration in Sri Lanka through third-party opposition, then you can send in your counterstatement to the NIPO within three months of the said notice.

Authors

Written by Aarya Pokharel. Last updated on Nov 11 2025, 09:55 PM

Aarya Pokharel brings 3 years of solid experience in legal research and compliance. Her expertise spans tax filing, secretarial compliances, and advisory services, with a strong focus on delivering precise legal research and strategic advisory support.

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