Sri Lanka cops probe fake World Twenty20 merchandise

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – SEPTEMBER 22: Local children play cricket on the streets outside the R. Premadasa Stadium during the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Group B match between Australia and the West Indies on September 22, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Colombo, Sep 24 – Police in Sri Lanka are looking out for the manufacturers of counterfeit merchandise after a factory raid revealed large quantities of fake team shirts of the ongoing International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Twenty20 in the country.

Police media spokesperson SP Ajith Rohana said Monday that the special crime unit, Colombo Crime Division (CCD), is continuing investigation following a series of raids on retailers in the markets in Colombo. It closed down a factory in Boralesgamuwa, a small town 15 km away from the capital, which was in the process of producing large quantities of fake team shirts, reports Xinhua.

“The factory owner is to be charged under intellectual property act,” said Rohana.

The raids followed a complaint to the Sri Lankan police by ICC relating to the protection of trademarks and logos associated with the World Twenty20.

Iain Higgins, ICC’s legal head, said: “Counterfeit goods are a menace to all global events and ICC is determined to protect not only the valuable commercial rights of its partners but also the interests of the general public who may find themselves unwittingly purchasing inferior counterfeit products believing them to be official event merchandise.”

“Similar raids were carried out with great success during the World Cup last year and we will continue throughout the course of the World Twenty20 to pursue criminal action against those manufacturers and traders who are responsible for any other infringements that come to our attention,” he said.