Groundbreaking publication charts Sri Lanka’s competition law

A landmark publication on competition law in Sri Lanka was launched on September 4, 2025, for the first time in the country’s legal literature. 

The book, titled ‘Fundamental Principles Governing Competition Law in Sri Lanka’ and authored by Dr. Thashira Gunatilake, was launched at a well-attended ceremony held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.

The event was graced by an upper echelon of judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and Commercial High Court. The Attorney General, several eminent President’s Counsels, leading members of the Bar, senior academics and officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority were also present, thus underlining the significance of the event to the policymakers and legal community alike.

Introductory words were made by Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, PC, who fondly recalled on her professional relationship with Dr. Gunatilake. She reflected on his personality, commitment and promise as a junior and noted how his passion for scholarship and practice had resulted in this notable work.

This was preceded by the guest address by, Colombo University Law Faculty Commercial Law Department Head Senior Professor Naazima Kamardeen. She observed the substantive relevance of competition law, discussing both its theoretical foundations and practical implications of controlling markets, protecting consumers and encouraging fair competition. She observed that the book imparts the much-needed structure to practitioners, students and policymakers in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Gunatilake, who earned his Bachelor of Laws from the Colombo University, went on to complete a Master of Laws specialising in commercial law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Subsequently, he pursued a PhD specialising in competition law from the Colombo University, making him one of the few Sri Lankan scholars who have focused deeply on this field.

Formally presenting the book, Dr. Gunatilake noted its goal of connecting scholarly research with pragmatic relevance for Sri Lanka’s evolving marketplace. He also discussed the direct application of competition law to regulate abusive market monopolies and other anti-competitive practices, emphasising its practical necessity in safeguarding fair competition. 

The book ought to be a marker in Sri Lanka’s legal literature, advancing scholarly debate, guiding legal practice and enabling regulatory reform towards a level playing field.