Do I need to register my drone in Sri Lanka?

Yes. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) requires every drone — including sub-250 g models like the DJI Mini — to hold an Unmanned Aircraft Registration Certificate before it is flown. The certificate is valid for two years and must be renewed after that.

How much does a drone permit cost in Sri Lanka (CAASL)?

CAASL charges a registration fee plus a flight-approval fee. The approval fee is roughly USD 50 for one location and rises with the number of sites you name. At a USD→LKR rate of 305, a single-location permit lands around Rs 21,350. The calculator above lets you edit the rate and locations, and CAASL confirms the exact figure on your payment link.

Can tourists fly a drone in Sri Lanka?

Yes, but the same CAASL registration and approval rules apply to visitors. Apply through the online CAASL portal before your trip — approvals typically take up to ten working days. On arrival you also declare the drone at customs; it may be held until you show your CAASL paperwork.

What is the maximum altitude for drones in Sri Lanka?

The standard ceiling is 120 m (about 400 ft) above ground level in uncontrolled airspace, and you must keep the drone within visual line of sight at all times. Flying higher, beyond line of sight, or near an aerodrome needs specific air-traffic-control authorisation.

Where are drones banned in Sri Lanka?

Flight is prohibited over national parks, archaeological and heritage sites such as Sigiriya and Anuradhapura, airports and military installations, and over crowds, roads and railways. You must also stay at least 8 km from any airport without ATC clearance.

Is drone insurance mandatory in Sri Lanka?

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for Category A, B and C drones (anything above 200 g). Category D drones (200 g and below) are exempt. The premium is quoted by insurers based on your drone and use, so this tool flags the requirement but does not price it.

How is this different from the drone import tax calculator?

This tool covers the CAASL registration and flight permit — the right to fly. The drone import tax calculator covers customs VAT and SSCL when you bring a drone into the country. Tourists flying a drone in usually need both: clear customs on arrival, then hold a valid CAASL approval to fly.

When was this information last verified?

The weight categories, flight rules, no-fly zones and reported fee levels were last cross-checked against CAASL and traveller sources on 2026-07-12. CAASL does not publish a single machine-readable rupee fee schedule, so treat the totals as editable estimates and confirm on the official portal.

Sri Lanka · Travel

Sri Lanka Drone Permit & Registration Fee Calculator (CAASL)

Tells you whether your drone must be registered with CAASL, if third-party insurance is required, and the flight-approval fee in rupees — worked out from your drone's weight and how many locations you want to fly. No signup, sources cited.

By Induwara Ashinsana— Executive Director, Ryzera TechnologiesUpdated Jul 12, 2026

CAASL drone permit & fee

CAASL categories · fees editable

Drone take-off weight (grams)

Total flying weight incl. battery. Accepts 1–50,000 g.

Common drones

Purpose

Commercial work may need an extra operator approval — the fee is the same category.

Flight locations to approve

Sites named in one application (1–20).

USD → LKR rate

CAASL fees are quoted in USD; edit to today's rate (100–1,000).

Bringing it from abroad?

Tourists importing a drone also clear customs at the airport.

Your droneCategory C(above 200 g, up to 1 kg)

Registration

Required

2-year certificate

Third-party insurance

Required

Mandatory for this category

Operating approval

Required

1 location

Registration fee

Rs 6,100

$20.00

Approval fee

Rs 15,250

$50.00

Total CAASL cost

Rs 21,350

$70.00

CAASL charge	USD	LKR
Registration (2-yr certificate)	$20.00	Rs 6,100
Operating approval (1 location)	$50.00	Rs 15,250
Total estimated CAASL cost	$70.00	Rs 21,350

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for Category C but is market-quoted, so it is not included in the total above. Budget for it separately.

Fees are editable estimates matching reported CAASL charges (approval ≈ USD 50, scaling with locations). Confirm the exact figure on the official CAASL portal before you pay.

Core flight rules

Maximum altitude: 120 m (400 ft) above ground
Line of sight: Visual line of sight (VLOS) at all times
Aerodrome distance: Stay 8 km from any airport without ATC authorisation
Night flying: Prohibited (20 min after sunset to 20 min before sunrise)
Minimum visibility: 5 km

No-fly zones

National parks and wildlife reserves
Archaeological and heritage sites (e.g. Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, temples)
Airports, military installations and government high-security zones
Over crowds, public gatherings, roads and railways
Controlled airspace without ATC authorisation

Last verified 2026-07-12

How it works

Sri Lanka's drone rules are set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL). Two things decide what you owe and what you must carry: your drone's take-off weight and the number of locationsyou want approved. The calculator applies CAASL's published categories and requirements, then totals the fees.

Classify by weight. CAASL sorts drones into four categories: D = 200 g and below, C = above 200 g up to 1 kg, B = above 1 kg and below 25 kg, and A = 25 kg and above. A DJI Mini (249 g) is Category C; a DJI Neo (135 g) is Category D.
Registration. Every category needs an Unmanned Aircraft Registration Certificate before flight, valid for 2 years. This holds even for sub-250 g drones, which many countries exempt.
Insurance. Third-party liability cover is mandatory for Categories A, B and C. Category D (200 g and below) is exempt. The premium is market-quoted, so the tool flags it rather than pricing it.
Flight-approval fee. Modelled as base + (locations − 1) × per-extra, where the base is about USD 50 for one site and each additional named location adds roughly USD 10— matching CAASL's note that the fee “depends on how many destinations you apply for.” Add the USD 20 registration fee for the total.
Convert to rupees. CAASL quotes in US dollars, so the total is multiplied by an editable USD→LKR rate (default 305) issued by the Central Bank. Edit it to today's rate for an accurate figure.

CAASL does not publish one machine-readable rupee fee table — the exact amount is confirmed on a payment link after you apply online. The fee constants here are editable estimates that match figures reported by operators and travellers, and the tool tells you to confirm the final number on the official CAASL portal before paying. Flight rules (max 120 m altitude, visual line of sight, 8km from aerodromes, no night flying) and the no-fly list come straight from CAASL's UAS Requirements.

Worked examples

Tourist with a DJI Mini 4 Pro (249 g), 3 locations

Weight: 200 g < 249 ≤ 1,000 g → Category C
Registration required (2-yr certificate); insurance required (Cat C)
Approval fee: USD 50 + (3 − 1) × 10 = USD 70
Registration fee: USD 20 → Total: USD 90
In rupees at 305: 90 × 305 = Rs 27,450 (plus insurance, quoted separately)

Commercial operator, DJI Matrice-class (6,500 g), 1 location

Weight: 1,000 g < 6,500 < 25,000 g → Category B
Registration required; insurance required (Cat B)
Approval fee: USD 50 + (1 − 1) × 10 = USD 50
Registration fee: USD 20 → Total: USD 70
In rupees at 305: 70 × 305 = Rs 21,350

Sub-200 g drone, DJI Neo (135 g), 1 location

Weight: 135 ≤ 200 g → Category D
Registration still required; insurance NOT required (Cat D exemption)
Approval fee: USD 50; Registration fee: USD 20 → Total: USD 70
In rupees at 305: 70 × 305 = Rs 21,350
Even the lightest drones must be registered before flying in Sri Lanka

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

Categories, flight rules and no-fly zones follow CAASL's UAS Requirements. Fee levels match figures reported by operators and travellers and are user-editable; CAASL confirms the exact amount on your payment link. Last cross-checked on 2026-07-12.

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