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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.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
