Desk with printed application forms, a passport, a pen and a folded drone in warm window light

Drone Permits and Registration in Sri Lanka

4 published guides · verified against official sources

How to register a drone, obtain security clearance, request flight approval and handle imports, with the official forms, lead times and authorities for each step.

Quick answer

The Sri Lankan permit chain has three links: register the drone with CAASL using form CAA/AS/019, obtain a security clearance from the Ministry of Defence at least five days before flying, and request operation approval from CAASL on form CAA/AS/017 with the clearance letter and third-party insurance at least two working days before the operation. Imports need separate permissions before the drone arrives.

The approval pathway

  1. CAASL

    Register the drone

    Form CAA/AS/019 via the drone portal. Camera-free drones of 200 g or less are exempt under current guidance.

  2. Ministry of Defence

    Security clearance

    Requested by email using CAASL's sample letter, at least 5 days ahead. Processed through the OCDS.

  3. Site authorities

    No-objection letters

    Heritage sites involve the Department of Archaeology; parks involve the DWC or Forest Department.

  4. CAASL

    Operation approval

    Form CAA/AS/017 with the clearance letter and third-party insurance, 2+ working days before flying.

The sequence at a glance

01Import permissionBefore the drone enters the countryTRCSL and Customs02RegistrationForm CAA/AS/019 via the drone portalCAASL03Security clearanceAllow five or more working daysMinistry of Defence04Operation approvalForm CAA/AS/017, two or more working daysCAASLSequence under current guidance. Lead times are minimums; start several weeks before a planned trip or project.

Guides in this section

Current official guidance

Drone Registration in Sri Lanka: How It Works

How to register a drone with CAASL in Sri Lanka: form CAA/AS/019, mass categories, the 200 g camera exemption, ownership transfer and deregistration.

Read the guide
Current official guidance

Drone Flight Approval in Sri Lanka: The Official Process

The CAASL drone flight approval process step by step: MOD security clearance, no-objection letters, form CAA/AS/017, insurance, payment and timelines.

Read the guide
Current official guidance

Drone Security Clearance in Sri Lanka (MOD)

How the mandatory MOD security clearance for drone flights in Sri Lanka works: who issues it, when to apply, what to include and how it fits the CAASL process.

Read the guide
Current official guidance

Importing a Drone into Sri Lanka: Approvals Explained

Which approvals are needed to import a drone into Sri Lanka: Ministry of Defence, CAASL, TRCSL and the Import and Export Control Department, plus type approval.

Read the guide

In development

The following guides are on the editorial roadmap and will be published after official-source verification. They are not yet available.

  • Drone Pilot Licensing (Announced System)
  • Approval Processing Times
  • Documents Required for Drone Permits