Competition Structure Categories: 

01 Photographic Documentation.
(Photojournalism, Sports Photography, Participation Photography, etc...) 

Photographs with successful documentary value are accepted for this competition category. The way in which photographic thinking, composition, and technical capabilities are used to present a phenomenon in a more authentic documentary and more expressive way is considered in this competition category. Photographs that have been post-processed beyond the faithfulness of the moment the photograph was captured will not be accepted for this category. The jury reserves the full right to disqualify any photograph or composition of photographs that the jury determines has been subjected to post-editing beyond its “documentary fidelity”. The photographer is obliged to provide the original digital file corresponding to the direct capture of the photograph (with metadata) at any time requested by the jury. Images created with artificial intelligence, or assembled works are not allowed in this category.

02 Nature and Environmental Photography.
(Wildlife photography, nature photography, landscape photography, etc...) 

Photographs that are more unique and aesthetically pleasing, and that are fair and realistic representations of the values associated with nature, shall be submitted under this category. Photographs that have been post-processed beyond the faithfulness of the moment in which the photograph was captured will not be accepted for this category. Photos that include man-made elements will be considered valid under this category if the selection panel determines that the photographer has attempted to express nature in an apropriate manner. The jury reserves the right to disqualify any photograph or composition of photographs that the jury determines has been subjected to post-processing beyond its “documentary fidelity.” The photographer should provide the original digital file of the direct capture of the photograph (with metadata) at any time upon request by the jury. Images created with artificial intelligence, or assembled works are not allowed in this category.

03 Social and human identity photography
(street photography, lifestyle photography, portrait photography, fashion and representation photography, photographs depicting human body features, etc...)

Photographs that focus on various aspects of human society, human values, human relationships and identities, human life and its various visual characteristics can be submitted for this competition category. Post-edited, artificial intelligence-based, or assembled works will also be allowed without restriction.

04 Conceptual and Experimental Photography
(Surrealist Photography, Abstract Photography, etc...)
Photographs that are created with experimenting the concept of photography, photographic technology, or the nature of photography, as well as photographs created through new conceptual approaches, are accepted for this category. Post-edited, artificial intelligence-based, or composite works will also be allowed without restriction.

05 Annual Theme Category.
Each year, entrants have the opportunity to submit their entries in accordance with a specific theme. The theme for 2026 is “Challenges”. There will be no restrictions on the submission of post-edited, AI-generated, or assembled entries.

Although the same entry may be submitted in two or more categories, the same entry will not be awarded two or more category wins. If the same entry wins in multiple categories, only the highest winning entry will be awarded and the photo will be removed from the other categories with equal or lower winning entries.

Sections:

• Single Picture

• Photo Essay (Series of 3-8 images)

In all the above categories, there are two sections. Contestants can submit their works in both sections for all categories. The Single Photo section and the Photo Essay section (which can be submitted with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 photos) will be judged separately, and the winners will be selected separately for these two sections. Accordingly, a total of ten sectors (5 categories × 2 sections) will be judged at the state level at this festival. First, second and third places as well as five merit places will be selected for each sector. If the selection panel decides that there is no suitable work submitted for a particular winning place for a particular sector, the prizes and certificates for that winning place will not be awarded. In case of special jury awards, they will be awarded at the discretion of the selection panel, subject to the condition that a maximum of one jury special award will be awarded for each sector. The final decision on all matters in the competition rests with the selection panel for the relevant competition sector and the State Visual Arts Council will not interfere in any way in this regard. Prizes and certificates will be presented to the respective winners at the State Photography Awards Ceremony, which is held as part of the State Visual Arts Awards Ceremony.

Conditions and Details

I. Thus, the state level appreciation for a total of ten competition sectors (five competition categories and two competition sections for each category) will be done in this festival. First, second and third places as well as five merit places will be selected for all competition sectors and if the selection committee decides that there is no suitable work submitted for a winning position for any competition sector, prizes and certificates for that winning position will not be awarded. Jury Special Awards, if any, will be awarded subject to a maximum of one Jury Special Award per competition sector at the discretion of the Selection Committee.

II. Candidates can submit their photographic creations for any competition category. The maximum number of submissions per competition category is four (04). (Individual photos and photo essays in total 4 or less.)

III. All works must be accompanied by an artist’s note of not less than 50 words and not more than 100 words in any language Sinhala, Tamil or English that can be presented to the audience. Entries submitted without this note will be rejected.

IV. Although the same photograph may be submitted in two or more contest categories, a single submission will not be awarded a chance to win in two or more categories. If the same work (a single photograph or an essay) wins in more than one competition category, the highest winning entry will be given only one chance and that work will be eliminated from equal or lower winning chances in the other categories. Subsequent photographs taken at the same time, which, as determined by the selection committee, may not be considered to have any significant degree of variation, shall be treated as the same photograph, even with minor variations.

V. Monochrome or color photographs may be submitted. Photographs must be submitted to meet at least one of the following two criteria: 1920 pixels on the long side or 1080 pixels on the wide side of the digital image.

VI. Image files must be in sRGB or AdobeRGB standard display color spaces and the maximum file size of an image must not exceed 2MB.

VII. Photographs consisting external marks such as watermarks, dates, seals, etc., which are irrelevant to the content of the work, will be removed from the competition.

VIII. Entries received late and submitted in contravention of the competition conditions will be disqualified from the competition without prior notice.

IX. Failure of the contestant to provide the digital file (which containing exif data) of direct capture of a particular work when requested by the Department of Cultural Affairs shall be deemed sufficient grounds for disqualification of the work concerned, disqualification of winnings or cancellation and recall of winning awards, cash prizes and certificates.

X. The Department of Cultural Affairs shall not be held responsible for any damages incurred during uploading or downloading of works.

XI. The selection committee of the sector has full powers to not award prizes, certificates or awards for the respective competition sector in case the works are not received in accordance with the conditions, technical standards and criteria of a particular competition sector and also to cancel and recall any kind of awards, including winning awards, cash prizes and certificates given, if decided by the selection committee.

XII. All works submitted for the competition must be works captured/created by the submitting artist. Neither the Selection committee nor the Department of Cultural Affairs will intervene in case of any legal issue regarding the ownership or copyright of the work.

XIII. The Department of Cultural Affairs will take steps to blacklist contestants who are found to have attempted to rig the contest.

XIV. Works expressing discriminations against any individual or social group, should not be submitted for competition. If any controversial or legal or problematic situations arise due to such matter, the Department of Cultural Affairs or the selection committee shall not intervene in the same and the responsibility shall be taken by the contestant.

XV. The intellectual property rights of all works submitted for the competition are owned by the artist and the Department of Cultural Affairs reserves the right to use them for publicity purposes.

XVI. Photographs that have previously won an award or a certificate at a State Photography Contest, should not be submitted.

XVII. Entry to the Contest shall be deemed acceptance of all Contest Terms and Conditions.

XVIII. The Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs is the final arbiter of all policy decisions related to this competition, exhibition and award ceremony.

XIX. Submission of applications for the competition should be done through the www.dca.lk website of the Department of Cultural Affairs by completing and uploading the relevant application form.

XX. There is no fee to enter this competition.

XXI. The final decision on all matters in the competition rests with the selection committee for the respective sector of competition and the State Visual Arts Board or the Department of Cultural Affairs shall not interfere in any means.

XXII. Prizes, awards and certificates will be presented to the respective winners at the State Photography Awards, held as part of the State Festival of Visual Arts - 2026.

XXIII. In the event of any dispute between the meanings of the Sinhala, Tamil, and English translations of this document, the Sinhala language document shall prevail.

Commencement date for acceptance of entries - 15 July 2026.

Closing date for acceptance of entries - 31 August 2026.

State Visual Art Council

Department of Cultural Affirs

8th Floor, Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla.

K.S. Dilhani, 

Director, 

Department of Cultural Affairs