I. Ten sub-sections (5 categories × 2 sections) will be evaluated. Each will award First, Second, and Third Prizes, along with five Merit Awards. If the selection panel deems no entry worthy in a sub-section, no prize or certificate will be awarded. A maximum of one Special Jury Award may be granted per sub-section at the selection panel's discretion.

II. 02.2 Any individual may submit entries to any category. A maximum of four (4) total entries may be submitted across all categories, including both single photographs and photo essays.

III. The photographer may provide a note about the work to display to the audience, up to 50 words, in any of the languages, Sinhala, Tamil, or English. This note will be displayed alongside the work in all three languages. 

IV. Submissions may be in color or monochrome. Each image must meet at least one of the following specifications: 1920 pixels on the long side or 1080 pixels on the short side.

V. Files must use the sRGB or AdobeRGB color profile and must not exceed 2MB in size.

VI. Photographs containing watermarks, date stamps, or irrelevant markings will be disqualified.

VII. Late submissions or entries that violate the rules will be disqualified without notice.

VIII. Failure to submit the original, unedited digital file upon request will result in disqualification, withdrawal of any awards, and cancellation of certificates and prizes.

IX. The Department of Cultural Affairs is not liable for any technical issues during upload or download.

X. If no entries meet the technical and thematic standards of a category, the jury reserves the right to withhold awards for that category.

XI. All entries must be the original work of the submitting photographer. The Department will not intervene in any legal disputes regarding ownership.

XII. Participants found to have attempted fraud or cheating will be blacklisted.

XIII. Entries that harm or defame individuals or groups are strictly prohibited. The Department will not be held responsible for legal or ethical issues arising from such content.

XIV. While intellectual property rights remain with the artist, the Department reserves the right to use submitted works for promotional purposes.

XV. Photographs that have previously received awards in the State Photography Festival may not be resubmitted.

XVI. Submission of entries constitutes acceptance of all competition terms and conditions.

XVII. The Department of Cultural Affairs reserves the right to make final decisions on all policies and their interpretations related to the competition, exhibition, and awards ceremony.

XVIII. Entries must be submitted via the official website of the Department of Cultural Affairs by completing and uploading the relevant application form.

XIX. There is no fee to enter this competition.

XX. All decisions regarding awards rest solely with the jury. The State Visual Arts Council will not intervene in these decisions.

XXI. Awards, prizes, and certificates will be presented during the State Photography Awards Ceremony, which will be held as part of the State Visual Arts Awards Ceremony 2025.

Submissions Open: 25 July 2025
The deadline for submission of works has been extended to September 25, 2025.

Inquiries:

Secretary, State Panel of Visual Arts  - 011 2882551

Website : www.dca.lk

Facebook  : https://www.facebook.com/culturaldept.gov.lk

K.S. Dilhani

Director

Department of Cultural Affairs