Fly Sri Lanka. Know the rules.

Understand permits, registration, official maps, restricted areas, tourist requirements and safe drone operations across Sri Lanka.

Check Before You FlyBrowse Drone Guides

Independent guidance based on current official sources.

Hand holding a rugged tablet showing a dark zone map with cyan outlines, above paddy fields at sunset

Five checks before you fly.

The CAASL Drone Zone Map is the official geographical guidance for every flight. Walk the checks from zone status to authority confirmation.

  1. 01Check the official mapsCAASL Drone Zone Map and heritage sites map
  2. 02Confirm operator and aircraft requirementsResident, tourist or business
  3. 03Confirm permits and security clearanceRegistration, MOD, CAASL approval
  4. 04Check the exact locationHeritage, parks, airports, ports
  5. 05Confirm with the responsible authorityAsk before you fly

This guidance does not replace official approval. Requirements can depend on the aircraft, operator, purpose and exact location.

Open the full decision path →

The two official maps

Zone status comes from the authorities, not from this platform. These are the two sources every location check starts with.

A rugged tablet in the field showing a dark zone map with glowing outlinesSource · CAASLCAASL Drone Zone MapThe official geographical guidance: restricted, controlled and open areas across the island.Open the guide →Galle Fort ramparts and lighthouse in warm evening lightSource · Dept. of ArchaeologyArchaeological sites mapDepartment of Archaeology listings where drone use needs written permission regardless of zone status.Open the guide →

Most-used guides

The pages readers reach for first, each verified against its official source and dated.

Browse all guides →A traveller on a tropical beach at sunset reviewing photos beside a folded droneFeatured guideFlying as a tourist

The island, guide by guide

City and site guides with the zones, sensitivities and approvals each one involves. Select a point to explore.

SigiriyaColomboKandyGalleJaffnaTrincomaleeEllaArugam BayAnuradhapuraPolonnaruwaNuwara EliyaAdam's PeakYalaUdawalaweTangalleBentotaNegomboWilpattuBatticaloaMirissaKalpitiya
21 published location guides
Sigiriya rock rising above scrub jungle under monsoon clouds

Cultural Triangle

Sigiriya

7.957° N · 80.760° E · 151 km from Colombo

Open the guide →

Coastline from Natural Earth public-domain data, simplified for rendering. Zone status comes from the official CAASL map, never from this overview.

Sigiriya rock rising above scrub jungle under monsoon cloudsCultural TriangleSigiriyaColombo skyline with the Lotus Tower at dusk from the Galle Face seafrontWestern coastColomboKandy Lake at misty sunrise with the white lakeside parapetHill countryKandyGalle Fort ramparts and lighthouse in warm evening lightSouthern coastGalle
Open suitcase on a hotel bed with a folded travel drone, camera, packing cubes and sandals in tropical morning light

Bringing a drone? Start four weeks early.

Import permissions, registration, clearance and approval, in the order that actually works, with the border check at the end.

Read the tourist guide →

What drones do here

A photographer on a tropical beach at sunset reviewing images, folded drone on a rockEstablished usePhotographyA survey drone above terraced paddy fields with a mapping mesh visualisedEmerging useAgricultureA coastal construction site with tower cranes, seen from above with contour linesEstablished useConstruction

Find your requirements in four answers

Can I fly here?

Who is flying?

Latest verified updates

Changes are published only after checking the official source, with the date of verification.

All updates →A stack of printed documents beside a folded drone with reading glasses on top
  • 19 July 2026Core CAASL and Ministry of Defence guidance re-verified against the live official pages.
  • 18 July 2026Type approval form reference corrected to CAA/OP/078 per the current CAASL page.
  • 17 July 2026Official source directory expanded to sixteen authorities with verification status.

How information is checked

Every regulatory page names its authority, links its official source and carries a last verified date. Where something cannot be verified against an official page, it is labelled rather than guessed. Where this platform and an official source differ, the official source is correct.

Editorial policy →Suggest a correction →
Working at a laptop in a tropical home office at golden hour, a folded drone on the desk

Primary sources

  • Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, drone section and portal
  • Ministry of Defence, UAV clearance process
  • Department of Archaeology sites map
  • Thirteen further authorities in the source directory
Official source directory →

Core sources last verified 19 July 2026.

Common questions

Can tourists fly drones in Sri Lanka?
Tourists may be able to fly after completing the official process: import permissions before travel, CAASL registration, an MOD security clearance and a CAASL operation approval with insurance. Start several weeks before the trip and verify the current process through CAASL. Read more →
Do I need to register my drone?
Under current CAASL guidance, most do: registration uses form CAA/AS/019 via the drone portal. Drones of 200 g or less without a camera or sensor are exempt under current guidance. Read more →
Who regulates drones in Sri Lanka?
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) is the primary regulator, with the Ministry of Defence issuing security clearances and site authorities such as the Department of Archaeology involved for specific locations. Read more →
How do I check if I can fly at a location?
Check the official CAASL Drone Zone Map and the Department of Archaeology sites map, then confirm operator requirements and any site permissions. Our five-step guide walks the whole check. Read more →
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