World Intellectual Property Chief concludes successful visit to SL
Thursday, 14 November 2013 01:02
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Director General of the World International Property Organisation (WIPO) Dr. Francis Gurry was in Colombo on an official visit last week to present the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture and hold discussions with several key Sri Lankan Government officials involved in intellectual property, science and technology, trade and commerce.
Dr. Gurry was in Colombo in an invitation by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation and Mrs. Kadirgamar.
Dr. Gurry, an Australian national met President Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Tuesday. The President held discussions with the WIPO Director General about further enhancing Sri Lanka’s capabilities in areas such as patent drafting and integrating intellectual property into its national policy formulation.
WIPO has been assisting Sri Lanka to formulate laws for the protection of intellectual property and discussions were beginning on the need to expand the regime to ensure that areas such as traditional knowledge are protected.
The visiting Director General delivered the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Wednesday.
Dr. Gurry also met with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris on Tuesday – and with Senior Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana and Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishard Bathiurdeen on Wednesday.
During his visit Dr. Gurry delivered the keynote address at a symposium on Intellectual Property and Development at the Cinnamon Grand. He was also invited to a reception hosted by Australian High Commissioner Robin Mudie on Thursday.
The Government is looking for WIPO assistance to protect Sri Lanka’s unique genetic resources and traditional knowledge, including indigenous plants such as Kothalahimbutu and registering Ceylon Cinnamon as a geographical indication internationally.
Sri Lanka has been a member of WIPO since 1978. The last time a WIPO Director General visited Sri Lanka was in the 1980s when Minister Lalith Athulathmudali was Minister of Trade.
