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.
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:


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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Check out the basic requirements and criteria for trademark registration in Sri Lanka as mentioned below:
All natural and artificial persons can register a trademark in Sri Lanka.


The documents needed for trademark registration in Sri Lanka are as follows:
Understand the difference between symbols for trademark registration in Sri Lanka if you’re interested in protecting your distinct brand identity.

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.

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

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

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

Cosmetics & Cleaning Products

Pharmaceutical

Clothing, Footwear, and Headgear

Preserved and Frozen Food

Food Items

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Advertising & Business Management

Entertainment & Education

Hotels & Accommodation
Scroll down and find out what type of businesses must register a trademark in Sri Lanka:
There are various types of trademarks for Sri Lanka TM registration, including individual, collective, and certification trademarks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 include long-term protection, security against counterfeiters, and business expansion.

Find out how Corpbiz will help you with compliance obligations after trademark registration in Sri Lanka, as described below:
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.
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).
To prevent any trademark infringements, we’ll monitor various databases, social media, web domains, and online marketplaces.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A trademark must be renewed within the last 6 months of the ongoing trademark registration in Sri Lanka.

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.
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.
We have no hidden costs- our fee structure is transparent, just like our policies for trademark registration in Sri Lanka.
Avail our services anytime at the best EMI rates with leading banks.
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.
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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