Sri Lanka Police have issued updated guidelines on loudspeaker use, warning of equipment seizure and legal action against those who continue generating excessive noise despite warnings.
Sri Lanka Police have announced stricter enforcement measures targeting the misuse of loudspeakers, amplifiers, and other sound equipment across the country. The move comes as authorities seek to address growing concerns about noise pollution and its impact on public health and wellbeing.
According to police guidance, sound equipment is generally prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Police may grant exceptions for religious functions and special occasions, in which case loudspeakers can operate until 10 p.m. on weekdays (Monday to Thursday), 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:30 a.m. on Sundays. However, authorities stressed that these extended hours do not provide automatic permission for excessive noise, emphasizing that permitted sound levels must remain confined to the relevant premises and should not disturb surrounding residents.
Police cited Supreme Court Case No. 38/2005 in establishing that excessive noise causing public annoyance constitutes a public nuisance under Section 261 of the Penal Code. The enforcement framework identifies infants, schoolchildren, elderly people, and patients as particularly vulnerable to noise pollution's psychological and health effects. Officers will monitor compliance with permit conditions, and those who fail to cease excessive noise after police instructions face equipment seizure and potential legal proceedings.
The public has been encouraged to report violations by contacting their nearest police station or calling emergency lines 118 or 119.
