According to the gazette, any billboard, hoarding, or advertisement could be erected on the road only after obtaining a one-year permit from 16 registered state institutions after making the relevant payment.These permits can be renewed annually upon payment of a renewal fee. However, such structures cannot be erected in a manner in which it obstructs the “environment, landscape, visual amenity and safety of persons”.

Advertisements including signboards, banners, posters, digital billboards on land, buildings, kiosks, and even mobile vehicles would be subjected to these laws.The Authority issuing the permit can instruct the removal of a billboard or hoarding if the permit period lapses, failing which steps would be taken to remove the structure. The cost of removing the structure would be borne by the permit holder, the gazette read.

The gazette vested the authority of issuing permits to the below mentioned state institutions ;
Department of Archeology
Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management
Department of Forest
Department of Wildlife Conservation
Road Development Authority
Provincial Road Development Authorities
Urban Development Authority
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka
Agrarian Development Department
Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Irrigation Department
Provincial Irrigation Departments
Municipal Councils
Urban Councils
Pradeshiya Sabhas
Click here to see the gazette