Can I fly a drone over Sigiriya Rock?

No, you can’t fly a drone over Sigiriya Rock without prior multi-agency approval. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and also a high-security area, so unauthorised drone use will likely result in your equipment being confiscated right away, and then you could face legal action too.

If you want to operate a drone legally near Sigiriya, or any major cultural site in Sri Lanka, you need explicit written permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the Central Cultural Fund. The approval workflow is strict; it can take a few weeks, and you’ll need to pay certain commercial filming fees as well.