Experts from the G15 grouping -the focused country group that works along with G77, which is the largest coalition of developing countries in UN will conduct their intense sessions in Colombo from 24th to 25th April, focusing on Intellectual Property (IP) rights of traditional knowledge.

Monday’s Colombo session is a follow up to G15’s 2016 Algeria session on Protection of Intellectual Property (IP) rights of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen is scheduled to open the Monday session joined by Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha and World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Assistant Director General Minelik Alemu Getahun.

Also on the cards at Colombo session is the review of the historic Ten-Point Plan, unveiled by Minister Bathiudeen and WIPO Director General Dr. Francis Gurry in November 2013 in Colombo. The pioneering 10 point plan, during Dr. Gurry’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2013, included proposals around the Madrid Agreement helping Sri Lanka’s innovations base-securing international trademark rights creating the framework for a knowledge-based economy.