The Hon. Lieutenant Commander (Rtd.) Prageeth Madhuranga

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I consider it an honour to speak in this debate to approve regulations under the Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, to register geographical indications.

¶ 02 A geographical indication is an intellectual property right akin to patents, trademarks, and copyrights. A unique geographic origin, taste, aroma, traditional knowledge, and climatic conditions add value required for GIs.

¶ 03 Once a GI is obtained, legal frameworks such as regional agreements and the WTO TRIPS Agreement protect its legality, prevent unauthorized use, certify authenticity as a true product unique to that region and covered by the GI, and enhance its economic value. Consumers can confirm it is genuine, not counterfeit. For these benefits, obtaining GIs for certain products is necessary.

¶ 04 Sri Lanka’s biodiversity, cultural heritage, and traditional craftsmanship provide many candidates for GI registration. Among them, Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon are already recognized as primary GIs. In addition, Ceylon Pepper, Ceylon Cashew, Ceylon King Coconut, and Ceylon Pineapple are products with regional suitability that can be registered as GIs, though not yet registered. In my Mahara area, near Kirindiwela, King Coconut is already exported to Dubai, earning considerable income, yet still not GI-registered. Further, Ambalangoda masks, Dumbara mats, and handloom varieties can be registered. For example, in India, Karnataka has registered tweed fabric as a GI. Although the IP (Amendment) Act, No. 8 of 2022, included provisions for GI registration, no regulations had been approved until now.

¶ 05 We are building a production economy. Our Government’s foremost task is to strengthen the economy through production—not by selling state assets or borrowing abroad. Our aim is to develop and enrich the country through a production economy. Therefore, on 2024.10.22, via a special Gazette, we introduced GI registration regulations—how to register, how to oppose, how to cancel, how to amend a registered GI, etc. Those are the regulations we discuss today.

¶ 06 Any intellectual property right is economically valuable to a country. GI registration adds significant economic, political, social, and legal value. Globally, 58,600 GIs have been registered—China 9,785; Germany 7,586; Italy 6,330; France 6,098. Because regulations were delayed here, we missed opportunities. I kindly request the Sri Lankan people to use GIs to develop their regions. Note: a GI cannot be registered privately by an individual; it must be by an association/cooperative of several persons.

¶ 07 We have a good opportunity to register our pineapple as a GI. Countries report that GI-registered products gain 20–50% in value. For example, before Kampot pepper in Cambodia was GI-registered, the price was USD 5.75/kg; after 2010 GI registration, it is now around USD 15/kg—an increase of 200%.

¶ 08 We can register palmyrah, kithul, Jaffna mango, and even Jaffna grapes as GIs. I invite everyone, on this journey to uplift the economy through production, to register GIs for all items unique to their regions and thereby uplift the national, local, and personal economies.

¶ 09 Thanking the voters of Gampaha District, the Mahara seat, and the Retired Tri-Forces Collective of the NPP, and you for the time, I conclude.