Acts and laws applicable within the Galle fort

01. Regulations for the conservation of Galle Fort cover the following :-

(i) Conservation Zone

In this zone shall –

Maintain and conserve the architecture of the buildings and the monuments and ensure that such properties be used economically feasible; effective and in an efficient manner.
Any new constructions, improvements or renovation work of buildings that changes the internal or external appearance of a building, be in harmony with the Conservation Development Plan.
Regulation of any un-authorized constructions and/or any un-authorized change of use be in harmony with the provisions made in the Conservation Development Plan.
The parking of vehicles be in conformity with the Traffic Management Plan prepared by the Galle Heritage Planning Committee.

(ii) Preliminary Planning Clearance

Every development activity within Galle Special Regulatory Area shall be carried out in
conformity with the following:

Planning clearance for all development activity shall be obtained from “Galle Heritage Planning Sub – Committee” appointed by the Urban Development Authority herein after referred as the Sub – Committee”.
Every developer shall submit duly completed applications with the building plan to the UDA along with the processing fees.
All Building Plan shall be prepared and signed by a Registered Architect of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.
The developer shall also furnish the following documents:
- A photograph of the frontage of the existing buildings together with the buildings on either sides of the existing building.
- If the site is vacant, a photograph showing the frontage of the site together with the abutting sites or buildings.
- A copy of the Survey Plan of the specific site.

70.5 The preliminary planning clearance shall be issued within one month from the date of receiving the application. Provided, all the requirements are fulfilled, based on the recommendations of the sub – committee.

70.6 The preliminary planning clearance will not constitute a permit and shall not entitle the applicant/owner or any person authorized by the owner to commence or carry out any development activity what so ever.

(iii) Development Permits

Building application shall be submitted by the applicant/owner to the Engineering Section of the Galle Municipal Council for development permit, with 05 copies of building plans together with the preliminary planning clearance for approval. Planning Committee of the Galle Municipal Council shall approve the development plan and issue a development permit to the owner/applicant to carry out the development if the plans are in conformity with the regulations.
A copy of the preliminary planning clearance approval and a copy of the development permit issued by the Galle Municipal Council shall be displayed at a prominent place in the proposed site. This development permit shall be displayed and protected throughout the entire period of construction. The original of the development permit shall be made available in any time for inspection. The Galle Municipal Council may, on application and payment of prescribed fees extend the validity of the permit for a further period of not exceeding two years, if it is satisfied that the development activity referred to in the permit has been commenced but not been completed due to unforeseen circumstances.

(iv) Maintaining its historical nature

No excavation within this site be carried out without a clearance from the Archeological Department.
Under Section 6 of the Antiquities Ordinance (Chapter 188), the developer shall inform his intension on site preparation for development to the Archeological Office at Galle. All excavation shall be carried out under the supervision of Archeological Department and be completed within 30 days of granting the approval. If not, sub – committee may extend the validity of the permit considering the appeal for further period of not exceeding 14 days. Thereafter, Department of Archeology should complete the supervision and submit a report to the Sub Committee.
Developer/owner shall pay the supervision charges to the Department of Archeology.
Approval shall not be granted to demolish any buildings which has archeological value.

(v) Change of Use

All land owners of the Galle Fort Special Regulatory Area shall develop their lands as per the zoning plan of Galle Municipal Council area.
No activities that are considered not compatible to the Zone such as; Government Institutions, production Industries, Stores, Offices shall be allowed within the Galle Fort area.
Buildings shall be demolished, only on the recommendations of the Authorized Officers.
Approval shall not be granted to demolish any buildings which has archeological value.

70.11 Permitted uses within the Galle Fort Special Regulatory Area shall be;

Tourism industry related handicrafts show rooms,

Museums
Small Scale Hotels without swimming pool or pond
Tourist gift centers,
Ticket issuing centers,
Guest houses
Small scale restaurants,
Appropriate recreational activities,
Bookshops,
Small professional offices,
Art galleries,
Small shops,
Gems & jewellery shops, and related cottage industry

Change of use of residential buildings for the above purposes shall maintain 35% of the building areas for residential purposes.

70.11 Following activities shall not be permitted within the “Galle Special Regulatory Area”’

Garage Buildings (for parking)
Motor Vehicle Repairing Garages
Motor/Auto Service Stations
Fuel Filling Stations
Stores not exceeding 200.0 sq.m.
Industrial Buildings & Industries
Government Institutions & Armed Forces buildings (Army, Navy, Air force & Police)
Quarters for a high security person
Hotels exceeding 20 rooms
New schools or extensions to the existing buildings
Super Markets
Warehouses or other similar buildings

(vi) Changes to Existing Buildings

Archeological and architectural interest features of the colonial period buildings within the Fort Area shall be conserved and maintained. All changes that are made without approval to the existing buildings which affects the archeological and former architectural features of the buildings shall be restored to the original design within one year from the date of direction of the UDA.

70.13 Any garage, parking or similar use for vehicle, shall not be conducted in front of the building mentioned in the above Section 70.12.

70.14

No existing front verandahs of the buildings be covered or changed, to effect its appearance. Any streets with specific features given for the front of the building as verandahs or row of columns shall be maintained and continued accordingly.
Any new accessories fixed instead of old handrails, carved wooden columns, doors, windows, windows slats, fan lights, or any other special features, such features shall be in conformity with the original plan and it shall be carried out subject to the UDA approval.

70.15 Any renovation to an existing building shall be carried out in conformity with the archeological or architectural features of that particular building.

70.16 All lands located within Galle Special Regulatory Area shall be used in an appropriate manner to protect all historical structural features of the area.

(vii) Rooftop and height of buildings

Height of any building within Galle Special Regulatory Area shall not exceeds ten meters and only two floors are allowed with only Calicut tiles, half round tiles or clay tiles for roofs, and roof gardens shall be allowed.
Physical changes to any building shall not be carried out without a clearance from the Planning Sub Committee.
No radio television antennas and water tanks shall mar the characters of the roof of the buildings.

(viii) Colours to be used on buildings

All colour scheme of the buildings shall be in accordance with the stipulated colours for the Galle Special Regulatory Area.

Accepted colours are white, grey and yellow and no any other colours are allowed.
Two storeyed building shall be painted with a single colour. Light tonal differences are permitted.
Facades of the building shall be painted with a single colour.
Colour of the two visible streets facades of a building shall be in harmony with each other.

(ix) Finishing of buildings

All internal and external appearance of the buildings shall be in harmony with the existing historical building within the Galle Fort area.

No reflecting or mirrored glass shall be used in the front elevation of the buildings.
No approval is granted to cover the front arcade with ceramic tiles, mosaic tiles, and any tiles with colour patches or tiles of any type and inappropriate plaster textures.
Facade finishes of the buildings shall be compatible with the environmental characteristics.
The facades and the roof materials of the buildings of any street shall be in uniformity with other buildings.

70.20 The floor finishes shall be in harmony with the archeological features of the existing buildings. Permission may be granted for rendering of cement, terra cotta tiles, rough and polished granite and pressed cement tiles for floors. Painting of the floors are not permitted.

Floor Area Ratio

Gross floor area of all floors of the building

Site Extent

(Percentage of coverage should not exceed 1:1.5)

Plot coverage

Floor area at ground level X 100

Site Extent

(Should not exceed 75%)

(x) Boundary walls

No boundary walls are permitted in front of the buildings facing the roads; only boundary walls, fence or live fence are permitted (on either sides of the buildings) not exceeding one meter in height.
Boundary walls which are allowed shall be plastered and painted using approved colour scheme (White, Ash, Grey). No mosaic tiles, ceramic tiles and coloured bricks are allowed.

(xi) Swimming-pools and Ponds

No swimming pools or ponds shall be permitted within the special zone.

(xii) Advertising Boards and Advertisements

All types of advertisements with dynamic and continuously changeable devisers, using neon lights or more dominantly and contrasting characters are prohibited.
Each building is permitted to install one name board. Horizontal name boards shall be installed at the space available between the top edge of the ground floor windows and the first floor level or the upper floor window sill level. Advertisements shall not be permitted to install at the railings of the building of the upper floor. Vertical name boards may be installed at the front side within the permitted height and the space given by the Planning Sub Committee.
The total area covered with advertisement should not exceed 1/3 of the allowed facades area of the building. Preliminary approval shall be obtained from the Galle Municipal Council prior to the installation of any hoarding.
Galle Municipal Council shall provide appropriate places to install hoarding structures within Galle Special Regulatory Area.
Any, hoarding structure/name board/notice shall not be installed / sticked on to the electricity posts, telecom posts, fortress, boundary walls, open areas, on trees, roads 26 29 or on roofs and cover any historical monument or any carvings of such monuments. Size and type of the letters of the name boards and other hoardings shall be determined by the Galle Heritage Planning Sub-Committee.
All Installation of hoarding structures/notice boards within any private or public property are prohibited other than the area marked by the Galle Municipal Council.
Notice boards shall not be kept covering windows and doors.

(xiii) Landscape

Landscape plan shall be provided by the Urban Development Authority for the identified special locations within the Galle Special Regulatory area.

All internal surface drains shall be covered with concrete slabs and fed into the main drainage maintained by the Galle Municipal Council.
Erection, re-erection or renovation of boundary walls which are not facing a road/roads should be constructed with round shape stones.
The existing sewer system built during the Dutch period should be repaired and the underground sewer lines should be cleaned and maintained by the Galle Municipal Council.
Urban Development Authority shall provide detail plans for parking areas, public open areas, restaurants, toilet facilities and for any other public uses.

(xiv) Streetscape

A street lighting system should be approved by the Galle Heritage Planning Sub Committee. The design of the lamp posts should be in accordance with the approval granted by the Galle Heritage Planning Sub Committee. The main roads side of the Rampart facing Galle City to be illuminated at night.

70.26 A common design shall be introduced by the sub – committee for street name boards and name boards for the Galle Special Regulatory Area.

70.27 Existing building line shall be maintained as it is in the Galle Special Regulatory Area.

(xv) Management of traffic and vehicle parks

No heavy vehicles and other vehicles including buses which are more than five tones in weight shall enter into the Galle Special Regulatory Area.

70.29 All delivery vehicles enter or exist Galle Special Regulatory Area shall be limited from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m only.

70.30 Appropriate measures to the taken strategies could be used on streets to prevent vehicles entering the Galle fort area.

70.31

Speed of all vehicles in the Galle Special Regulatory Area shall not exceed 25 Km. per hour.
All vehicles shall be parked only in the areas allocated for vehicle parking during specified period of time.

(xvi) Infrastructure

All existing and proposed buildings, electricity, antennas, telecom, water, drainage systems that can be covered within service facilities shall be in consistence with the development within the Fort area.

70.33 All service lines, systems should be laid underground in order to conserve and maintain world heritage character of the Galle Special Regulatory area.

(xvii) Constructions in the coastal zone

Together with the application, a plan of the proposed construction from foundation level to the first floor should be submitted (application annexed) :
Also, a survey plan of the proposed construction site, drawn by a licensed surveyor, in three copies, should be submitted along with the application.
Any improvements to existing buildings, re-designing, minor changes to the interior and external view of a building, repairs, building materials used or any other construction activity, should be in conformity to the conservation development plan (all details annexed).

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN ZONE II

70.34 No construction work, minor alteration to existing buildings, excavation, construction of semi-permanent or temporary buildings shall be permitted within Galle Special Regulatory Area.

70.35 No archaeological features that exist in the old harbor area shall be removed, while using the area for activities that are specially approved by the Galle Municipal Council.

70.36 The physical features of the building in the International Cricket Complex should be maintained in conformity with the environmental features and the appearance of the Fort area.

70.37 All buildings which are not compatible with the characters of the Galle Special Regulatory Area shall be either removed or relocated in an appropriate manner.

PART IV

DEFINITIONS

710 In these regulations: –

“Apartment” means a unit as defined in the apartment ownership law no.11 of 1973

“Access” includes any street used as means of access to buildings or other premises whether the public have a right of way the re over or not

“Authority” means the urban development authority constituted under the urban development authority law no. 41 of 1978.

“Basement” means that part of the floor below the ground level or to and extent of 2\3 of it height below the adjoining ground level;

“Building – High – Rise” means any building with more than four floors including the ground floor or whose height at any part of it above the ground level exceeds 15.0 meters. Excluding a lift or motor room not exceeding a height of 3.0m.and not exceeding 25 sq.m. in extent or a water tank not exceeding a height of 1.5m

“Building Residential” means a building exclusively consisting of one dwelling unit or a number of dwelling units;

“Building Line” means the line up to which a building will be permitted to extend;

“Building Work” includes erection or re-erection of a building or making additions or alteration to an existing building;

“Chairman” means the chairmen of the Authority;

“Dwelling House” or Dwelling unit” means a building or part of a building consisting of a room or group of rooms forming a self-contained living unit with independent sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities;

“Development Activity” has the same meaning as in the law;

“Existing Lot” means a lot which is in existence before the coming into operation of the law;

“Factory” includes a building or part of a building used for the manufacture or production or repair of any article;

“Flat” means a unit as defined in the apartment ownership law no. 11 of 1973

“Floor Area” means the horizontal area of a floor of a building measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls or in the case of a common wall separating two buildings from the center line of such common wall and shall include all roof projections and balconies exceeding 1.0 m. in width and all areas having a roof and capable of being enclosed.

“Floor Area Gross” means the total of the floor area of every floor in a building;

29 32 “Floor Area Ratio” means the gross floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the area of such lot;

“Floor Space” means the horizontal area of a room or space in a building measured from the interior face of the enclosing walls,

“Housing Complex” means a group of dwelling units on a site which is permanently in common enjoyment and may include a block of flats,

“Industrial Building” includes factories, workshops and warehouse;

“LAW” means the urban development Authority law no. 41 of 1978;

“Local Authority” has the same meaning as in law,

“Lot” in relation to land means the entirety of any land which has been demarcated by boundary marks or enclosed within boundary walls or fences where such land belongs to one single person or to a set of co-owners and approved as a lot by the local Authority or the Authority;

“Owner” includes a person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises in connection with which the work is used whether in his own account or as an agent or trustee for any other person or who would receive the same if such premises were let to a tenant;

“Place of Public Assembly” means a place or building used whether regularly or occasionally for public congregation such as a theatre cinema hall, public hall, concert room, lecture room or exhibition room or for similar purpose and includes a public building;

“Planning Committee” means the committee appointed under section 8b of the law;

“Public Building” includes any building used for the purpose of public worship, instruction recreation or meeting and a medical institution or a nursing home or government office;

“Public Street” means any street over which the public have a right of way and has become vested in any authority under any low or by operation of any low and includes the drain or footway attached thereto;

“Qualified Person” in relation to a development activity means;

- where no building work is involved or any works involving site layout or subdivision exceeding 0.5 hectares, a registered or chartered town planner and a licensed surveyor in case of involving a site layout or sub-division not exceeding 0.5 hectares a licensed surveyor and leveler;
- where building category A and B are involved a registered or chartered architect or engineer, or person whose qualifications have been recognized by government for employment as architect or engineer under government; and
- where building category C is involved any person acceptable to the Authority as such;

“Street” includes any road, footway or passage used or intended to be used as a means of access to two or more dwelling units or sites whether or not the public has right of way over such street and includes all channels, drains, ditches, sidewalks and reservation at the side thereof;

“Street line” means a line or lines defined on one or both sides of an existing street to show is future width or to show the width of a future street as determined by the authority;

“Were house” includes a building or a part of building mainly used for storing merchandise of articles for trade.

02. Laws, regulations and conditions pertaining to the Department of National Museums, Galle

Days and times on which the Galle National Museum and Maritime Museum are open to the public :-

On all days, other than Sundays and Mondays and public holidays, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Ticket Charges :-

Local adults	Rs. 20/-
Local children	Rs. 10/-
Local Group (School) children	Rs. 05/-
Teachers	Rs. 15/-
Foreign adults	Rs. 300/-
Foreign children	Rs. 150/-
Still Camera Permits	Rs. 250/-
Video Camera Permits	Rs. 2000/-

Local and foreign official delegations, members of the clergy, members of the armed services in uniform and special groups and persons, with the written permission of the Director, will be allowed to view the museum free of charge.

For special purposes in regard to educational and media, obtaining information, still and video photography pertaining to the museum, will be allowed only on written permission from the Director.

For location photography of wedding couples, the use of the veranda and the ground opposite the National Museum and the ground opposite the Maritime Museum only will be allowed.

Among the other services offered are the sale of publications of the Department of National Museums and educational services including information and lectures for school and other groups.

Toilet facilities are available for individual visitors and groups.

03. Still and Video Photography within Galle Fort

Galle Fort is a cultural site, the heritage of which goes back in time to several centuries. There is recorded evidence of Galle Fort being an important international trading post, even before the advent of the Portuguese in 1505. After arriving in Sri Lanka, the Portuguese spread their rule to most of the coastal areas of the island and this strategy was adopted by the Dutch too who followed the Portuguese. Wherever they found Portuguese fortifications, they entrenched themselves and used them for defence purposes . While the British took control of the entire country, the colonial powers who preceded them, limited their activities to selected coastal areas. The presence of the Portuguese and the Dutch is evidenced by the buildings leftover by them, carrying their unique architectural features in coastal outposts all round the island, such as Kalpitiya, Chilaw, Negombo, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Tangalle, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Delft, Mannar and Elephant Pass.

Out of all these centres, Galle earns a special place due to the existence of buildings containing architectural features belonging to all three colonial powers, viz., the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, in a good state of preservation, and because it continues to be a living heritage city, where the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays and others, with a variety of cultural identities, co-exist in harmony.

Due to these reasons, Galle Fort was inscribed in the List of World Heritages by UNESCO in 1988 so that its outstanding universal value could be protected and preserved.

It is our duty and responsibility to protect and preserve the historic cultural value of this monument, dating back to nearly 500 years, and endow it to future generations. To give practical effect to this responsibility, it is necessary to constantly create awareness among the people and also to impose laws and regulations. Such laws and regulations have been enacted not with the intention of placing difficulties on the people, but because it is the bounden duty of us all to protect our priceless cultural heritage.

When the tsunami waves struck the coast of Galle on 26^th December 2004, thousands of lives were saved by the massive fortification which acted as a buffer. However, it is most regrettable that some unscrupulous persons have established various dubious institutions and are selling the cherished cultural heritage of this site for money.

All this places immense responsibility on the Galle Heritage Foundation which is the dedicated institution, established by Act of Parliament No. 07 of 1994, to protect the outstanding universal value

of this site. It is our responsibility, not merely to conserve and protect the old buildings located within this site, but also to save it from the clutches of unscrupulous local and foreign cultural thieves.

Taking into consideration the above facts, the Board of Management of the Galle Heritage Foundation, with the approval of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, took a decision on 13.09.2005 to exercise the responsibility of granting permission and supervising still and video photography of a commercial nature within the World Heritage site of Galle Fort.

COURSE OF ACTION TO BE FOLLOWED IN OBTAINING PERMISSION FOR STILL/VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY

- If any person or institution wishes to obtain permission for still or video photography within Galle Fort, first permission should be obtained from the Department of Archaeology and the Galle Police.
- Together with the above permission documents, an application should be obtained from the Galle Heritage Foundation, duly completed and returned.
- The Board of Management of the Galle Heritage Foundation has determined the charges applicable according to the nature of photography. Once the completed application is submitted to the Galle Heritage Foundation, the applicant will be informed of the amount to be paid. On payment of this sum, a receipt and permission document will be issued.
- The applicants should ensure that the information provided by them in the applications are full and accurate, as the Galle Heritage Foundation takes the responsibility for the permits issued.

CONDITIONS TO BE FOLLOWED BY APPLICANTS

Once permission is granted, the photography will be supervised by an authorized officer of the Galle Heritage Foundation. This officer has to carry out the responsibilities of the Galle Heritage Foundation, and the permit holders should give him their fullest co-operation.
If it is intended to photograph a building which has been declared as an archaeological monument, prior permission should be obtained from the relevant institutions.
The permit holder should ensure that no harm of any nature will be done to any building, archaeological artefact, the rampart walls or the environment within the Galle Fort, in the course of executing photography.
The permit holder should ensure that no harm of any nature will be done to any cultural, racial or religious traditions or identities, in the course of executing photography.
The natural environment within Galle Fort should not be harmed in any way in the course of executing photography and the permit holder should ensure proper management and disposal of waste generated by them.
The vehicles used for the transport of persons and equipment and material should not in any way damage the underground sewer system in Galle Fort, and the regulations and conditions pertaining to traffic management in Galle Fort should be adhered to.
In using loudspeakers or other amplified sound equipment, there should not be any harmful impact on the old monument or on the residents of Galle Fort.
If aerial photography is done, photography should be done from a height of not less than
meters from the top of the highest construction in Galle Fort.
If photography is done on the beach, adjacent to the fort, no harm whatever should be caused to the rampart walls, the natural environment on the beach or sea and any marine life.
The permit holder should ensure that no harm whatever is caused to the environment of the World Heritage Galle Fort or the beach and sea by the waste matter discharged or collected by any machinery or equipment used.
No photography should be carried out or the Galle Harbor area or Navy Camp area or any other area, if such areas are declared as areas where photography is prohibited for security reasons.

MATTERS ON WHICH SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID

If any of the above conditions are violated, legal action could be taken. If due to violation of any of these conditions, photography is stopped, the Galle Heritage Foundation will not be liable for any loss suffered by the permit holder.
Adhering to the above conditions will not exempt the permit holder’s liability in regard to any other laws and regulations which are in force.
After completion of photography, an edited copy of the photography should be submitted to the Galle Heritage Foundation. Also, if the photography is telecast or broadcast, specific mention should be made that photography has been done with the permission of the Galle Heritage Foundation and under conditions laid down by the Foundation.
The permit holder should also ensure that in displaying the final edited version, there should be no distortion to the photography of Galle Fort monument or environmental zone.

CHARGES LEVIED FOR STILL/VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY

Serial No.	Programme	Minimum Charge (for a day)	Charges for each additional day	Supervision Charges (per day)
	Films (foreign)	Rs.150000.00	Rs. 25000.00	Rs. 2000.00
02	Tele-dramas (foreign)	Rs.100000.00	Rs. 10000.00	Rs. 2000.00
03	Documentaries (foreign)	Rs.100000.00	Rs. 10000.00	Rs. 2000.00
04	Educational Programmes (foreign)	Rs.100000.00	Rs. 10000.00	Rs. 2000.00
05	Commercials (foreign)	Rs.150000.00	Rs. 25000.00	Rs. 2000.00
06	Still Photography (foreign)	Rs. 10000.00	Rs. 5000.00	Rs. 2000.00
07	Films (local)	Rs. 40000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
08	Tele-dramas (local)	Rs. 25000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
09	Documentaries (local)	Rs. 25000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
10	Educational Programmes (local)	Rs. 10000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
11	Commercials (local)	Rs. 50000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
12	Still Photography (local)	Rs. 5000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
13	Musical Videos (local)	Rs. 15000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00
14	Reality Shows (local)	Rs. 25000.00	—	Rs. 1000.00

04. Registration of Business Names within Galle Fort (Rules and regulations applied by the Divisional Secretary’s Office, Galle Four Gravets)

When applications are received for registration of business names within Galle Fort, such applications are referred for approval to the Galle Heritage Planning Sub-Committee by the Divisional Secretary.
If the land to be rented is either state land or land, the possession of which has been handed over by State for some purpose, the Divisional Secretary should be informed and he will take further action in terms of relevant circulars and due process.
If it is intended to carry out construction or development on a state land, it should be land the possession of which has been handed over according to due process. If it is land which has not been handed over according to due process, action will be taken under Repossession of State Lands Act No. 07 of 1979, to take back possession of such land.
In regard to development proposals within Galle Fort, such proposals should be submitted to the Divisional Secretary after obtaining the approval of the Galle Heritage Planning Sub Committee.

05. Laws, by-laws and regulations of the Galle Municipal Council

Conditions for Still Photography and Video Photography

The Fort in Galle is a declared archaeological monument. The area surrounded by the rampart walls and its buffer zone are a living heritage site where people live and carry out their day to day activities. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate still and video photography and other activities within this area, so that it would not cause a nuisance to the residents, visitors and others. Therefore, only such permitted activities will be allowed, subject to the following conditions: –

Still and video photography of the archaeological monument of Galle Fort should be carried out only in the presence of an authorized officer of the Department of Archaeology, and in keeping with the conditions placed by him for public interest.
No images of persons in indecent postures should be included in your photographs or videos.
By your actions in carrying out photography, no harm whatever should be caused to any old monument, place, ground or environment, and you should ensure that no such harm is caused.
No still or video photography should be carried out within an archaeological museum.
No photography should be carried out in places where the Department is conducting conservation or excavation work.
These conditions are laid down in terms of Regulation No. 47 of Regulations, imposed by Gazette No. 8698 dated 23.12.1940, in accordance with Section 47 of the Antiquities Ordinance 9 of 1940. Violating these conditions or regulations would be a punishable offence under Section 44 of the Ordinance. Further, violation of these conditions or regulations or any harm done in any way to antiquities, would constitute a punishable offence under Sub Section 15 (b) of the Antiquities (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 1998.
If the output of such photography is used for any commercial purpose, included in any publication, telecast or broadcast, or used for advertisement or exhibition, the final copy should be submitted to the Department of Archaeology and prior approval obtained.
Photography should be for the specific for which permission has been obtained, and if it is to be used for any other purpose, prior written permission should be obtained from the Department of Archaeology.
If photography is to be done inside an archaeological monument, prior permission should be obtained from the caretaker of such monument.
If aerial photography is to be carried out over Galle Fort, the aircraft should not fly below a height of 500 meters.
If drone cameras are used, prior permission should be obtained from the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority, the office of the Head of Joint Defence Staff and other relevant authorities. In operating drone cameras, the drone should not fly directly above a monument or archaeological site, and the drone should fly at a vertical distance of 100 feet or more.
The Director General of Archaeology could at any time cancel the permission granted and the Department of Archaeology is not liable for any compensation in such event.
This permission is valid only for the period mentioned.
In photography carried out for films, tele-dramas or other similar purposes, no constructions, excavations or lighting of fires should be carried out. In erecting temporary enclosures, the permit holder should ensure that it is done without digging the earth. Also, temporary enclosures should not be connected to any monument or part of monument.
In carrying out photography for films, tele-dramas and commercials, a full report containing the script, a summary of the story and the manner in which photography will be done in the location of the monument, should be submitted to the Department of Archaeology, together with the request for permission for photography.
At the conclusion of the programme, the location should be properly cleaned and handed over to the Department of Archaeology.
Due to this filming, photography or video filming, no nuisance should be caused to the residents, visitors and others in Galle Fort.

Conditions for various other Programmes

All types of programmes conducted within the archaeological site of Galle Fort should be carried out in the presence of an authorized officer of the Department of Archaeology, and in conformity with the conditions laid down by him in the public interest.
Disrespectful postures, indecent behavior or programmes which are unsuitable to the culture of Sri Lanka are prohibited.
These conditions are laid down in terms Section 47 (e) of the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940, and any person who violates these conditions or regulations will be committing a punishable offence under Section 44 of this Ordinance. Violation of these conditions or regulations or any harm done in any way to antiquities, would constitute a punishable offence under Sub Section 15 (b) of the Antiquities (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 1998.
If drone cameras are used, prior permission should be obtained from the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority, the office of the Head of Joint Defense Staff and other relevant authorities. In operating drone cameras, the drone should not fly directly above a monument or archaeological site, and the drone should fly at a vertical distance of 100 feet or more.
Permission shall not be granted for any programme to be conducted using the rampart walls.
In conducting programmes, no constructions, excavations or lighting of fires should be carried out. In erecting temporary enclosures, no constructions, excavations or lighting of fires should be done. Also, temporary enclosures should not be connected to any monument or part of monument.
In conducting the programme, no damage or disrespect should be caused to any ancient site, and also the permission holder should ensure that no damage is caused to any ground or the environment.
The Director General of Archaeology could at any time cancel the permission granted and the Department of Archaeology is not liable for any compensation in such event
Permission should also be obtained from other relevant institutions.
At the conclusion of the programme, the location should be properly cleaned and handed over to the Department of Archaeology.
When programmes are conducted during week-ends and outside working hours, the relevant party should undertake to pay the archaeological officers engaged in supervision, overtime or any other approved allowances.

Conditions for the Display of Banners, Cut-outs and Boards within Galle Fort

No permission shall be given for the display of banners or cut-outs within Galle Fort.
Name boards of businesses should not exceed 10’ x 2’ feet in size and no colours other than black and white should be used.
In installing name boards, no damage whatever should be caused to the monument or any part of it and archaeological features of the monument should not be covered in any way.
No brand sponsorship boards of any type should be displayed.
If posters are displayed opposite business premises, they should not exceed 2 ½ ‘x 1 ½ ‘feet in size and they should be fixed to frames and be removable.
No poster, banner or cut-out should be fixed on the rampart walls.