News
SC upholds injunction against unauthorized use of Chint Power trademark

By AJA Abeynayake
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has upheld the interim injunction issued by the Commercial High Court of Colombo, which restrains four defendants, including Chint Power Solutions (Pvt) Ltd., from using the “Chint Power” trade name in any manner that could be misleading or closely resemble the trademark of CHINT Group Corp.
The Commercial High Court’s initial order, issued on March 2, 2022, came as a response to a legal action filed by CHINT Group Corp., the registered owner of the ‘Chint’ and ‘Chint Power’ trademarks in many countries worldwide. The company has been selling its products through Chint Power Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. in Sri Lanka for several years, even though these marks were not officially registered in Sri Lanka. The Chint Power Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. was accused of selling products that closely resembled those of CHINT Group Corp., prompting the legal action.
The application filed against the defendants encompassed three key claims: the declaration of the defendants’ trademark as null and void, allegations of violating the plaintiff’s trade name, and unfair competition practices by the defendants.
The appeal petition was filed by the third and fourth respondents, R.K.R Electronics (Pvt) Ltd. and Sriskantharaja Rajivkumar, who were the current assignees of the registered trademarks. They sought leave to appeal and the annulment of the Commercial High Court’s order.
Representing CHINT Group Corp., Attorney at Law Manoj Bandara, argued that the sale of products resembling those of CHINT was misleading and that the “Chint” and “Chint Power” brands had garnered substantial goodwill and reputation in numerous countries. These brands had become well-known trademarks for switches and sockets in Sri Lanka, where consumers readily identified them with CHINT Group Corp. This led to the claim that the defendants’ conduct constituted acts contrary to honest practices, as outlined in s.160(1) of the IP Act.
After careful consideration of the arguments presented by both parties, the Supreme Court’s three-judge bench unanimously ruled to dismiss the appeal petition, without granting leave, against the interim order issued by the Commercial High Court of Colombo.
Representing the defendant-petitioners, Kuvera De Soyza, President’s Counsel, appeared on behalf of the defendants. Senior Counsel Manoj Bandara and Thivanka Hettiarachchi, Attorneys-at-Law, as instructed by Sudath Perera Associates, represented CHINT Group Corp.
News
President meets Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah

President Anura Kumara Disanayake, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the 2025 World Governments Summit, met with the Prime Minister of State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah on Tuesday (11) afternoon .
During the discussion, President Disanayake highlighted Sri Lanka’s improved political and financial stability, emphasizing the expanded potentials in investment and tourism sectors.
Both leaders focused on strengthening trade relations and diversifying markets between the two countries. They also discussed the importance of exploring new strategic initiatives to enhance economic cooperation.
President Disanayake expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister and the State of Kuwait for its support in securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility, acknowledging its contribution to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
Additionally, the President noted that approximately 155,000 Sri Lankan workers are employed in Kuwait, contributing USD 700 million in annual remittances, which serves as a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s economy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, accompanied the President on this visit.
News
AKD’s attention drawn to ITAK’s threat to demolish Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said that it was the responsibility of the NPP government to ensure the safety of Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya, Kankesanthurai.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake holding the defence portfolio in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces should look into the developing situation, the retired Navy Chief of Staff said.
The ex-lawmaker was responding to Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) leader S. Sritharan’s threat to demolish the Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya unless the government handed over the premises to owners of the land acquired over the years to build the Viharaya.
The warning issued at a media conference held at the Jaffna Press Club recently should also draw the immediate attention of the Parliament, Weeraselera said, stressing that the ruling party as well as other political parties represented in parliament couldn’t turn a blind eye to what he called an explosive development.
Declaring that the ITAK had the backing of the north-based EPDP and TNPF, the ITAK chief has vowed to launch a protest against viharaya and to take over the premises.
Weerasekera said that Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala should take immediate measures to prevent build-up against Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya.
According to him, during his tenure as the Chairman of Oversight Committee on National Security he inquired into the situation therein and addressed the issues at hand. Therefore, the ITAK and other Jaffna-based political parties shouldn’t seek to trigger chaos not only in Jaffna, but in other parts as well.
Responding to another query, Weerasekera, who unsuccessfully contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket, urged the NPP as a political party to take a stand as the north was won by them. The unprecedented defeat suffered by the ITAK at the Nov 2024 general election proved that the vast majority of northerners had rejected separatist agenda pursued by the ITAK etc., and therefore it was trying to incite people, Weerasekera said.
ITAK had conveniently forgotten that it regained the right to represent Tamil speaking people again only after the military had eradicated the LTTE that was recognised by the party way back in 2001 as the sole representative of Tamil speaking people, Weerasekera said, asserting that the planned action against Tissa viharaya could be part of their strategy to regain lost ground in the northern and eastern provinces.
Weerasekera said that the ITAK’s threat reminded him of the violent Pongu Thamil campaign launched in the aftermath of 2002 Ceasefire Accord signed between the then government and the LTTE.
Asked whether he intended to push SLPP to raise the temple issue in Parliament, the former minister answered in the affirmative, saying that all right thinking MPs would oppose the ITAK’s racist move.
News
Money laundering case: Travel ban on Yoshitha’s grandmother

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga yesterday (11) said that all suspects involved in a money laundering case in which former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s mother Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe was under investigation would be prosecuted under the Money Laundering Act.
The Police Spokesman said so after the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court had imposed an overseas travel ban on Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe, who is the grandmother of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, in connection with a money laundering case. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha is also implicated in the case.
Speaking to the media, SSP Buddhika said that on the instructions of the Attorney General, Mrs Wickremesinghe had been named a suspect in the money laundering case. According to him, the investigations carried out into a Rs. 59 million joint account held by Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Mrs Wickremesinghe, to which Rajapaksa failed to provide a reasonable explanation on the source of earnings.
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