The 14th National World Photography Day celebration, organized jointly by the All Ceylon Professional Photographers’ Association and the Gampaha District Professional Photographers’ Association, was held grandly on the morning of August 18, 2026, at the main hall of the “Wave and Lake” hotel in Welisara.
The event witnessed the participation of a large number of members from district photography associations representing all districts of Sri Lanka.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Senior government officials, prominent business owners, and other distinguished guests also attended the event.
Key Highlights of the Event
Bicentenarian Milestone of Photography: Marking 200 years since the creation of the world’s first photograph, this year’s national celebration was hosted in the Gampaha district from morning until evening.
Addressing Professional Challenges: Addressing the gathering, Minister Vijitha Herath stated that he would intervene to arrange a discussion with the President soon to address the challenges and issues faced by professional studio owners. He noted that regaining the facility to capture photographs for National Identity Cards and passports was a hard-fought victory, and assured his intervention in resolving current challenges regarding driving license photographs. He also praised the invaluable service rendered by photographers to humanity, emphasizing that photographs serve as timeless historical records.
Commemorative Stamp Release: The Department of Posts issued a special commemorative stamp and a first-day cover to mark the 200th anniversary and World Photography Day, which were first presented to Minister Vijitha Herath.
Awards Ceremony: Special awards were presented to past presidents, secretaries, and former high-ranking members of the Gampaha District Association. Sarath Wijerathne, the founder president (2014–2017) and proprietor of Dinali Studio in Negombo, received a special award from Minister Vijitha Herath.
Exhibition: An international-standard trade exhibition featuring modern cameras, equipment, printing machines, and stalls from prominent Negombo studios like Apollo Studio and Dinali Studio was held parallel to the event.
Reported by: Thushara Rohan Fernando
