Photography in Sri Lanka

You will be required to obtain Photography, Filming or Video Recording Permits for Historical Sites

Ancient Cities Tirkoneswaram Kovil Koneswaram - Shiva Temple The Sri Lankan Government don't make it easy for travellers wishing to take photographs of the main ancient monuments. You are required to obtain a permit from the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) Office at 212/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday) or the CCF Project Offices in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Kandy.

A single permit ticket, with a two month validity, will cost US$ 40 (2008) entitling the holder to view historic monuments in Sri Lanka and take photographs "in a manner which does not cause disrespect or afect religeous susceptibilities". The permit also allows entry into all archeological museums. The temples at Dambulla, Dalada Maligava (Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Kandy) and Isurumunia are not covered by this system and 'local' photography permits will have to be purchased.

Should you not obtain a round trip permit from the CCF Offices, you will be required to pay a highly inflated price for local permits at specific archeological sites.

Buddhism is a living world religon and many of the ancient sites in Sri Lanka are venerated. Photography should be done in a manner so as not to cause disrespect to monuments, shrines or images. Posing in front of paintings or statues is prohibited.

We apologise for the repetition of some place or proper names with different spellings, but there is no definitive spelling translation of these words.

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The conflict between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, commonly known as “the Tamil Tigers”) ended in May 2009. Although the conflict is over, the LTTE are believed to retain some capability to mount terrorist attacks such as grenade or explosive device attacks and shootings. The Government has relaxed the State of Emergency, under which it has extensive anti-terrorism powers but there are still heightened levels of security (e.g. checkpoints, road blocks) throughout the country. You should exercise a high level of vigilance. The risk for the most part is one of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. In order to minimise this, you should avoid military, government and paramilitary locations. Always carry formal photographic identification with you. Stop and show your ID when asked to do so. If you are detained, you should ask the authorities to contact the British High Commission.

Fatal attacks linked to the LTTE occurred throughout the country into 2009. Most attacks have been directed against Government and military targets though a number have been focussed on civilian targets such as crowded public places, public transport and market areas. Some of the most significant attacks included a suicide bomb at a political gathering in March 2009 and an air raid on military targets in Colombo in February 2009.

JeGraNet.com statement - 15 October 2008 - Quote from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: "There is a high threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka. Fatal attacks have become more frequent. They have occurred in Colombo and throughout Sri Lanka, including places frequented by expatriate and foreign travellers. Further attacks may occur at any time. There is an increasing risk of British nationals being caught up in an attack". As independent travellers we left Colombo after just 9 days into our planned 6 month stay as a result of a feeling of insecurity, however we are sure that 'package tour' travellers to tourist resorts will probably enjoy a worry free holiday.