Drone Laws Sri Lanka (How to Register and What are the Rules)

If you have been considering buying a drone, one of the first things you will want to do is check the regulations for flying drones in Sri Lanka. This article will explain what these laws are and how they can affect your use of drones.

Drone Rules Sri Lanka

Don’t Fly Near Airports

• You should never fly your aircraft near an airport without permission. Airports are busy places, and flying near them can pose a risk to other aircraft. If you’re caught, you could be fined for flying without permission—and that’s only the start of it!
• Don’t fly your drone without insurance. If something goes wrong mid-flight, who do you think will pay for all of those expensive repairs? Certainly not yourself or anyone else involved in the flight!
• Don’t fly without registration either—that’s another good way to get in trouble with officials if they see you doing it on camera or radar data from nearby airports (or even farther away).

Don’t Fly In Military Areas

Some areas are off-limits to drones and may be marked as such by signs on the road. If you’re unsure, call ahead and check with the local air traffic control tower or police station.

It’s important to respect these rules—you could be putting yourself, your drone, and anyone else at risk if you break them. Don’t fly near military bases or aircraft (or personnel or vehicles).

The same goes for training exercises and drills; if there is military activity in your area, keep away from it!

No Flying In Built-up Areas

You are not allowed to fly your drone in built-up areas. Flying within 5km of an airport is also prohibited, so don’t take your drone for a spin near the Bandaranaike International Airport or Katunayake International Airport. If you do, you may be fined or arrested by police.

Don’t Fly Near Wildlife

If you’re in a national park, do not fly your drone near wildlife. If you scare animals or cause them harm, you could be fined for violating this law. In addition to that, if the animal becomes injured because of your actions, you could be held responsible for any costs associated with its care and rehabilitation as well.

Moreover, if there are people or property nearby when you decide to take off with your drone and it hits them or causes damage to their property (including buildings), then under this law it’s considered an offense punishable by a fine as well.

Don’t Fly Near Places Of Worship

• You can’t fly a drone near places of worship, hospitals, prisons and government buildings.
• You can’t fly a drone in or near military bases or airports.
• Don’t fly your drone within 25 meters of a person or property if you don’t have their consent (this includes vehicles).
• Don’t fly your drone over crowds at events like marathons or concerts.

Your Drone Will Be Confiscated If You Do Not Follow These Regulations

If you are caught violating the regulations, your drone will be confiscated and you may face a fine. A lot of the time, people don’t realize they’re breaking the law until it’s too late. As a consequence, they end up being fined or having their drones confiscated (or worse).

Also note that if your drone causes any damage in Sri Lanka, whether accidental or deliberate, you will be held liable for any injury caused by your negligence! If someone gets hurt as a result of flying outside of these regulations then you could be charged with criminal negligence and face jail time if convicted!

How To Register Drone In Sri Lanka

The registration of drones is a new requirement from the Civil Aviation Authority. Here, we’ll explain how to register your drone in Sri Lanka.

1. Read The Guidelines And Regulations

Before you start registering your drone, it is important to first read through the guidelines and regulations issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority publishes these guidelines for safe flying of drones in Sri Lanka.

The guidelines cover a lot of information about how to fly safely, including:

• The types of drones that can be used in Sri Lanka and the maximum altitude at which they should be flown.
• How to register a drone so that it can be flown legally in Sri Lanka.

2. Fill In The Application Form

The application form is available on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website and can be filled in online.

After completing your application, you will need to print it out and send it to the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka along with any other relevant documents that are required for your permit.

The Civil Aviation Authority will then process your application, send it back to you and notify you when your drone has been registered

3. Fill Out The Application Form For Drone Registration

You can fill out the application form for drone registration as well as a form explaining why you need to use a drone on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website.

The forms can either be downloaded and printed out, or completed online. Both forms must be signed by the applicant before being sent off to CAA Headquarters.

To help speed up processing times in this busy department, it is recommended that your application include a photograph of yourself holding your passport and/or driving license with an explanation of how long you have been operating drones (if applicable).

4. Attach A Photograph Of The Drone Operator

The photograph must be a passport size photograph and is taken against a white background, with a black and white border. The applicant must be photographed with a neutral expression, head straight and shoulders back.

5. Check If You Have All The Necessary Details

If everything is done correctly, you will receive an email stating that your drone registration application has been approved and asking where you would like to collect your permit. You will also be notified when it’s ready for collection.

There is a fee associated with the certificate that needs to be paid at the time of collection. Once acquired, take care not to lose it as this document serves as proof that you are flying legally in Sri Lanka and should be carried along with your drone at all times during flights.

Renewing A Permit Is Different To Applying For One

Renewing a permit is different from applying for one. You need to send a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority and provide them with a copy of your license, passport and NIC card.

Are Drones Allowed In Sri Lanka

Drones are a great way to capture photos and videos of your travels, and they can be used for many other purposes as well. Just remember that drones aren’t allowed in all places, so you should always check ahead before taking off.

Fly At Least 500 Meters Away From Any Gathering

• The minimum distance is 500 meters. You can use Google Maps to measure the distance between you and your destination.
• A gathering of people refers to a crowd of people that is in one place or moving together (e.g., a parade, protest rally). It does not include public gatherings such as concerts or sporting events where participants are spread out over vast areas; nor does it include an individual on the street unless that person is part of some kind of procession (e.g., walking inside a security zone).

Keep Your Drone In Sight At All Times

• Fly directly away from the airport or heliport.
• You can fly over people, but you must keep your drone within line of sight at all times.
• Don’t fly over stadiums, crowds or large groups of people. This includes sporting events and concerts.
• Don’t fly anywhere near military bases or other areas with a high concentration of security forces (like the Colombo National Hospital).
• In Sri Lanka it is illegal to fly drones in national parks unless you have written permission from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).

Don’t Fly Close To Airports, Heliports And Military Bases.

• Don’t fly close to airports, heliports and military bases. This includes flying within five kilometers of an airport or heliport (or within 1 kilometer for military bases). If you need to get closer than that, you must notify the relevant authority.
• Don’t fly near emergency situations. If your drone is causing a hazard or interfering with emergency response efforts at a scene, you can be held responsible for any damages caused by collisions with emergency vehicles or delays in their operations.
• Don’t fly over groups of people without permission from the person organizing them (if it’s not you). It’s also important to be aware of your distance from crowds—even if there aren’t specific rules about this in Sri Lanka, it will make people uncomfortable if they feel like they’re being watched by something they can’t see. Generally speaking: don’t hover around anywhere where people are gathered unless they consent beforehand!

Drone Operators Are Prohibited From Flying Their Drones

Drone operators are prohibited from flying their drones over the following areas:

• Crowds. Drones cannot be flown over crowds, including sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings of people. This includes drone operators who may wish to fly their drones for recreational purposes at special events like these.
• Stadiums and military bases. The use of drones near stadiums is prohibited because many people will be present in close proximity to each other, which could lead to injury if there were a collision between a drone and any person or object on the ground (such as another spectator’s head). Similarly, drone use near military bases can potentially interfere with flight operations conducted by these facilities.
• Airports/Heliports/Prisons/Hospitals or Schools/Churches

Drones That Weigh More Than 0.55 Pounds Must Be Registered With The Faa.

The FAA requires that all drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds are registered with the agency. If your drone weighs less than this amount, you don’t need to register it with the FAA, but you should still follow local laws when flying in Sri Lanka.

In order to register your drone and obtain a remote pilot certificate, visit http://www.faa.gov/uas/

The rules surrounding drones in Sri Lanka are still being formed, but as things stand now there are some restrictions on where you can fly your drone and what kind of license you need to operate one. If you want to get started with flying drones in Sri Lanka then we recommend checking out our guide on how to fly a drone for the first time.

Frequently Asked Question (drone Laws Sri Lanka)

How Do I Register My Drone?

If you want to register your drone in Sri Lanka, you will have to visit the Civil Aviation Authority. You need to bring your drone along with your ID and proof of ownership.

What Is The Height Limit?

When flying a drone, you must not fly it higher than 120 meters.

If your drone is within 30 meters of any person or property, you must keep it at an altitude of 30 meters or lower. The only exception to this rule is when you are flying within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of an airport and have obtained prior permission from the airport authorities.

You must not fly your drone closer than 50 meters (164 feet) from any aircraft, helicopter or airfield where airplanes take off and land. Any breach of these laws can result in imprisonment for up to 2 years and a fine up to Rs 100 million (around $1 million).

Do I Need A License To Fly A Drone In Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka you do not need a license to fly a drone. However, there are some rules that you should follow:

• You must be over 18 years old.
• You must not fly your drone within 50 meters of any person or structure without their permission (this includes people and buildings on the ground).
• You must not fly your device higher than 120 meters above the ground level.

If you want, you can register yourself as a drone operator with Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority and get an identification card which will make it easier for people who see you flying your device to contact the authorities if they think something bad is going on with it

Where Can I Fly A Drone In Sri Lanka?

• You can fly your drone in Sri Lanka. However, you need to check the local rules because each place has its own set of regulations regarding drones.
• The best way to know if you can fly a drone in a certain location is by going to the local police office and asking about it.

Can I Fly Over People?

No, you can’t fly over people. The FAA specifically prohibits flying at a height of less than 400 feet over any person, vessel or structure without permission. Furthermore, you must keep a distance of at least 30 meters from people and structures when flying in low-risk areas (such as agricultural fields).

If the area is higher than 400 feet and lower than 457 feet (the maximum altitude for commercial drone flight), then you do not need to obtain permission to fly over them. However, you should be wary that there may still be restrictions in place for certain areas such as airports or military bases.

Conclusion

We hope this article has given you a better understanding of drone regulations in Sri Lanka. We would love to hear from you if there is anything else we can do to make your drone experience more enjoyable!