Prof. Nishantha Sampath Punchihewa is a Professor of Commercial Law and currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has been a Senior Fellow in the sub-project 'Digital Access to Library Content – Legal Frameworks in Germany and Sri Lanka' at the Centre for Advanced Study since 2024. His academic journey includes LL.B. from the University of Colombo (2000), LL.M. from Augsburg and Munich (2009), and a doctoral thesis on intellectual property law in Sri Lanka (2015). He was admitted to the bar in 2001 and has held teaching positions at multiple Sri Lankan universities since then, formalizing his role as a full professor in 2022. His research focuses on intellectual property rights and innovation, competition law, consumer protection, biotechnological inventions, IT law, and the interplay between human rights and IP. Notable areas of study include Sri Lanka's legal frameworks for patents, copyrights, and geographical indications like Ceylon Tea. He advocates for enhancing SME access to IP-based financing and promoting second-tier patent systems for local innovators. Punchihewa’s work bridges legal theory with practical applications, addressing challenges in digital rights management, tourism IP strategies, and sustainable innovation policies. His publications emphasize Sri Lanka’s unique legal landscape and its alignment (or misalignment) with global standards in IP and antitrust matters. He has advised extensively on policy reforms related to technology transfer, education curricula integration of IP concepts, and leveraging IP assets for national economic growth. His contributions have positioned him as a leading voice in South Asian legal scholarship, particularly in balancing commercial interests with ethical and developmental priorities.













