Do I need CAASL drone approval in Sri Lanka?

Yes, you do need prior approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) and also from the Ministry of Defence before flying any drone in Sri Lanka. If you operate without these authorisations, it can lead to confiscation or legal action, so please keep that in mind.

In practice, you will register your drone online via the CAASL portal and then obtain clearance from the Ministry of Defence. Beyond that, you might need extra, site-specific permissions if you plan to fly near archaeological sites, national parks, or densely visited tourist areas.