Sri Lanka is a tremendously photogenic island, so it’s hardly surprising that most tourists bring along a camera of some kind when they visit the country. The stunning landscapes, the captivating fauna and lush flora, and the stupendous archaeological remains provide great opportunities: a bonus is that Sri Lankans themselves love to be captured on film. They are likely to pose for you as eagerly as if they were being given a screen test for Hollywood’s next Box Office draw. So it’s easy to capture the traditional rural lifestyle. You’ll find villagers, farmers, fishermen and tea pickers jumping to it as soon as you get that camera out of your bag. It’s however a cinch that our politicians are likely to act with a bit more alacrity, especially those who have lost at elections. Your subjects will often ask to have copies of the pictures sent to them. This can be great because most of them have possibly not seen a picture of themselves, ever. It is also understandable that many will also expect a crisp dollar bill in return, after all, this is done in Hollywood too, right ? But you will find these simple and gentle people most endearing and eager to invite you for a cup[ make that glass]of black tea served with a piece of candy, so endearingly nice are they.
Restrictions
There are some important restrictions that apply to photography regarding Buddhist imagery. When you visit a temple or other religious site, remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner suggestive of a lack of respect. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals.
Permits
Tourists who wish to visit/and or photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka are required to purchase a ticket from the Central Cultural Fund, 212/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel:+94-11-2587912, +94-11-2500733, +94-11-2581944 (gen_ccf@sri.lanka.net) or Central Cultural Fund.
Photo Permits & Entrance Charges.
Sri Lanka is a photographer’s delight. However, permits are required before you can take photographs at certain sites. Entrance tickets to individual sites are available only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. These tickets cover charges for photography, recording and parking. Rates are quoted in US Dollars and rupee exchange values are subject to fluctuation.
