|
General
Sri Lanka has a long standing democratic tradition and
therefore respects the freedom of speech and expression. In keeping with this
spirit, media persons are welcome to visit Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs will facilitate all visiting media personnel, as required, during
their assignment in Sri
Lanka.
Guidelines for media personnel visiting Sri
Lanka:
a) All journalists/media personnel coming to Sri
Lanka need to obtain visa from the relevant Sri Lanka
Mission prior to their arrival in Colombo.
Media accreditation will not be recommended for media personnel who obtain
tourist visas on arrival at the airport, which is intended only for tourism
purposes.
b) A list of equipment carried by TV media should be sent to the Public
Communications Division through the relevant Sri Lanka Mission in advance, to
facilitate clearance at airport Customs. The list should be accompanied by a
letter of undertaking from the relevant media organisation
that the equipment would be carried out of the country upon the departure of
the media personnel.
c) All foreign media working in Sri Lanka are required to obtain
media accreditation from the Government Information Department, issued upon
recommendation from the Foreign Ministry. All visiting media are therefore
requested to contact the Public Communications Division of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs upon arrival in Colombo
regarding media accreditation.
Customs Clearance for Media Equipment
Journalists should obtain a
temporary import document known as “Carnet” for their
professional cameras and media equipment to facilitate immediate customs
clearance. In the absence of a “Carnet” he or she should submit a
bank guarantee for the value of imported items. If the visit is sponsored by
any state institution, a guarantee letter from the institution to ensure that
the equipment will be re-exported is required.
Personal cameras and personal video equipment need not be declared. The
Carnet/bank Guarantee/ Guarantee letter from the state institution is
required for professional media equipment only.
A prior license from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission is
necessary for telephone equipment such as satellite phones.
Tourism
Promotional Documentaries
1. Media teams coming to film
tourism promotional documentaries, or taking part in Sri Lanka Tourist Board
(SLTB) familitarisation tours, are required to fill
the “SLTB Selection Criteria for Journalists/TV crews for FAM
tours” form, which is available at all Sri Lanka Missions.
2. The SLTB requires at least 30 working days for processing the relevant
documents prior to the scheduled commencement of the project. Such media
teams should also have a ground handling team who will be coordinating the
project in Sri Lanka.
Filming in Wild Life Protected Areas
1. This requires prior approval
from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The duly completed
“Application for filming in wildlife protected areas”, available
at all Sri Lanka Missions, must be completed and handed over to the relevant
Sri Lanka Mission. The Department of Wildlife Conservation requires at least
two weeks to process the relevant documents before
the scheduled commencement of the project.
Filming
documentaries/feature films
1. Filming of all other
documentaries and feature films, other than tourism promotional films and
wildlife related documentaries, require prior approval by the National Film
Corporation (NFC).
2. Media teams are required to
complete the NFC agreement, available with Sri Lanka Missions, and submit it
along with the synopsis of the documentary, itinerary of the media team while
in Sri Lanka
as well as locations of filming. At least one week is required to process
these documents before the scheduled commencement of the project.
|