Sri Lanka
Is Weed Legal in Sri Lanka?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
August 6, 2026
The short answer
Last reviewed: August 6, 2026
Recreational marijuana is illegal in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Cannabis (locally ganja, kansa) falls under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance No. 17 of 1929 (as consolidated by Ordinance No. 43 of 1935 and subsequent amendments), administered by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) and enforced by the Police Narcotics Bureau and Sri Lanka Customs.
Possession of any quantity is criminal. Penalties scale with quantity: under 5 grams may be summarily dealt with, while possession of 2 grams or more of resinous concentrate or larger ganja quantities can trigger 5 to 20 years' imprisonment and substantial fines. Trafficking offenses involving 5 kilograms or more historically attracted the death penalty, currently subject to a moratorium and commuted to life imprisonment. The Ayurveda Act No. 31 of 1961 (as amended) creates a parallel licensed channel for registered Ayurvedic practitioners and Department of Ayurveda dispensaries, but recreational possession remains entirely prohibited.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
Sri Lanka
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited (recreational)
Regulator
National Dangerous Drugs Control Board; Police Narcotics Bureau; Sri Lanka Customs
Key regulation
Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance No. 17 of 1929 (as consolidated and amended)
Effective
January 1, 1929
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Limited
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of cannabis are prohibited without government authorization. Sri Lanka Customs screens travelers at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and the Port of Colombo. Smuggling penalties under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance can reach life imprisonment, with capital sentences in trafficking cases subject to the current moratorium. In August 2025, the government approved its first licensed cultivation ventures: seven foreign investors, vetted through the Board of Investment, may grow cannabis under strict security exclusively for pharmaceutical export.
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