Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Friday, 16 August 2013 03:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
the In-Service Training Centers (ITC), Sri Lanka Police College (SLPC), National Police Academy (NPA), Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (CFIB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other units of the Police Department island-wide gathered for this five-day course on intellectual property rights. This program specifically used a “Train the Trainer” concept.
The course is being coordinated by Retired DIG and Attorney-at-Law M.K.D. Wijaya Amarasinghe and the lecturers include Sudath Perera Asociates Attorney-at-Law Deshan Hewavithana who are well versed in the subject of IP law.
Addressing the gathering, SSP Selvarajah emphasised the importance of IPR in the national interest. He explained that so far the enforcement and prosecutions had been minimal due to lack of proper understanding of the IPR act among Police officers. He thanked the American Chamber of Commerce for facilitating this important training program.
Rtd. DIG Wijaya Amerasinghe also stressed the importance of IPR compliance and said that the Inspector General of Police was very keen on police officers receiving proper training in the subject. He stated that the primary functions of a police officer was prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution. Having been a past Director of the Anti-Piracy and Counterfeit Division he advised the participants to make use of this opportunity provided to them not only to widen their knowledge but to use it in combating IPR offences in the country.
AMCHAM President Vijaya Ratnayake in his presentation gave those present an insight into AMCHAM’s IPR activities since 2007 and its involvement in carrying out island-wide public awareness and enforcer training programs. He gave examples on how counterfeit pharmaceuticals, spare parts, software, video and music etc., could not only have a negative effect to the business climate and the good name of the country but also how it directly affects the general public in their day to day activities. AMCHAM presently airs TV and radio advertisements and carries out newspaper campaigns in all three languages to create public awareness on the dangers of counterfeited and pirated products. Ratnayake further appealed to the police officers that “IPR is a national issue and the nation needs their help”.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka has taken a key role in the past and shall continue to do so in the future to facilitate awareness and enforce the existing IPR law in Sri Lanka.
