Guide to Visiting Sigiriya
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With its stunning landscapes and rich culture, Sri Lanka presents an appealing backdrop for drone enthusiasts. So can I fly my drone in Sri Lanka? Before you launch your drone in this tropical paradise, it’s crucial to understand what you need to do to obtain approval to fly your drone, the regulations governing unmanned aerial vehicles in the country and what you need to do each time you want to fly your drone.
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) is the governing body responsible for overseeing and regulating aviation activities within Sri Lanka.
To fly a drone in Sri Lanka, operators must obtain prior approval from the CAASL. The approval process involves submitting a formal application that includes details about the drone, the purpose of the flight, and the intended flying area. It is designed to assess the safety and security implications of the drone operation.
This link takes you to an online form you must complete. It is essential to have your trip to Sri Lanka planned, as you need to provide the following information:
Other information that you will need to provide in your application includes the following:
Once your application is lodged, you may need to follow up on its progress. I had to send a follow up email to make sure we received our approval before flying to Sri Lanka.
For more travel tips and guides about Sri Lanka, head over to our Sri Lanka Travel page.
Once approval is granted, you will receive a Security Clearance To Fly a Drone Certificate from the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff. Make sure you read it carefully, as it will provide you with specific details of the approvals given. For example:
The Security Clearance Certificate also clearly sets out:
Copies of the Security Clearance Certificate are sent to:
You need more than just the Security Clearance Certificate to fly your drone in Sri Lanka.
Each time you are going to fly your drone, you MUST do the following:
Once this is all done, you can fly your drone.
For more travel tips and guides about Drones, head over to our Drones and Travel page.
Like most countries, Sri Lanka has designated no-fly zones, including airports and military installations. Drone operators must be aware of these restricted areas to avoid legal consequences.
Additionally, CAASL mandates that drone operators adhere to certain safety guidelines, such as maintaining a safe distance from people and property, flying only during daylight hours, and respecting individuals’ privacy.
The maximum permissible altitude for flying is 100 feet above ground level, and the operator must maintain a visual line of sight of the drone. You cannot operate the drone from elevated positions like high-rise buildings or rooftops.
It’s important to note that regulations may evolve, so prospective drone operators should check for the latest information on the official website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka or contact them directly for the most up-to-date guidance.
In conclusion, while the allure of capturing aerial views of Sri Lanka is undoubtedly tempting, a detailed approval process needs to be followed. If you obtain the necessary approvals and adhere to the requirements in the Security Clearance Certificate safety guidelines, you will come home with stunning aerial footage of this beautiful country.
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16 Responses
This is very helpful information for drone operators. They need to be so careful at so many places of importance in history.
When used properly and with proper approval, drones are amazing.
Not a drone person, but I really appreciate this post with the detailed rules, so that those wishing to fly a drone can adhere to the rules! Unfortunately, I have seen drone shots from so many places where drones are not allowed, so the more clear rules are published, the better.
One of the things that annoys me is people with drones not doing the right thing.
It’s important to follow all these guidelines and rules, or you could end up in a lot of trouble. Sri Lanka has beautiful scenery to film so well worth the effort.
Definitely agree Tania about following the rules. Unfortunately so many people still don’t.
Thanks for all of the details. Great to know the rules about the permits before flying a drone in Sri Lanka.
Thanks Sonia. Sri Lanka definitely has detailed requirements for drones.
We have often considered travelling with a drone. The views from above are often stunning. But the rules around drones seem to be changing so quickly. Good to know more about what is required to fly a drone in Sri Lanka. And to understand some of the limits that came with the permit.
We love having our drone with us (when we can of course). It’s definitely a worthwhile addition to your photography kit.
This is such a helpful guide! I really love done videos and photography but I’ve been put off investing in one because all the regulations around using them are intimidating! Thank you for breaking down everything to know about using a drone in Sri Lanka in such a digestible guide!
Thanks Hannah. We make a decision on a country by country basis as to whether we take our drone with us. Sometimes it’s just too hard to get approvals, so it’s easier to leave the drone at home.
These informations are a must needed – for both who wants to use drones and don’t! Each country (and sometimes places within the country) have different rules for using drones. Without knowing it, rone users may get into trouble. And those who don’t use can be aware if there is anything flying above them are not. When I was in Greece, someone was flying a drone above private property where we were staying and it was illegal. They got arrested! Same thing in Hampi. Poor girl’s drone was confiscated by the police
We had two different people fly drones over our bungalow in Maldives. I find it very disrespectful of people when they do this, let alone being illegal in many instances.
Thanks for the detailed information! I am planning to travel to Sri Lanka with my drone recently. I know every country is getting stricter on their drone laws but seriously having to call those offices two hours before operate my drone is kind of crazy to me honestly.
It is a fair bit to do Alex, but what we did was called into the police station in each town when we arrived to let them know we would be flying our drone between certain hours, so while it took time it wasn’t too bad.