Sri Lanka tightens drone laws after safety concerns

Colombo, January 12 (Daily Mirror) - The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that it will introduce a comprehensive programme to regulate the use of drones in Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on drones used for commercial purposes.

Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Daminda Rambukwella, said that all drones with commercial value will be required to be registered under the new regulatory framework. He explained that the CAA is responsible for overseeing both manned aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, including drones.

“There are two main categories—drones that carry people and unmanned drones. The Civil Aviation Authority has already introduced regulations for their controlled operation, and these will be fully implemented from this year,” Captain Rambukwella said.

Although the regulations were introduced two years ago, he noted that their full implementation is now set to begin. Drones weighing between 250 grams and 25 kilograms and used for commercial purposes will fall under CAA regulation.

“Drones below 250 grams, which are generally classified as toys, will not be regulated unless they are used commercially. Our focus is on regulating drones of 250 grams and above when they are used for commercial activities,” he added.

Captain Rambukwella also pointed out that separate regulations already exist for the import and export of drones, and operators are required to comply with those procedures.

Sri Lanka has seen a rise in drone-related violations in recent months, particularly in emergency situations and restricted zones. Following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah in late November and early December 2025, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Civil Aviation Authority issued urgent warnings after unauthorized drone operations disrupted Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. These unregulated flights posed serious risks to rescue helicopters operating in flood-affected areas, prompting authorities to require all drone take-off and landing times to be reported to the SLAF to prevent potential mid-air accidents.

Enforcement actions have also focused on sensitive religious and cultural sites. In late 2025, police made several arrests, including a Chinese national detained for illegally operating a drone near the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and a local resident arrested near the Ruwanweliseya for flying a drone without a permit. Following these incidents, the CAA reiterated that unauthorized drone operations could result in fines or imprisonment under the Civil Aviation Act.