32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?

Source: 

Section 126, Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981 

126. Political broadcasts.
(1) Every recognised political party or independent group which has submitted a nomination paper in respect of any electoral district shall, subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, be entitled, upon application made in that behalf within one week from the last day of the nomination period, to the use of broadcasting facilities during the period commencing from the day after the last day fixed for making such application and ending seventy-two hours prior to the commencement of the poll.

(2) A recognised political party or independent group making application under subsection (1) for the use of broadcasting facilities during the period referred to in that subsection, shall be permitted—
(a) in the ease of radio broadcasting, to use—
(i) a total period of thirty minutes, if such party or group has submitted nomination papers in respect of only one electoral district;
(ii) a total period of sixty minutes, if such party or group has submitted nomination papers in respect of more than one but less than fourteen electoral districts or has nominated not less than one hundred and thirty two candidates for the electoral districts, in respect of which it has submitted nomination papers;
(iii) a total period of ninety minutes, if such party or group has submitted nomination papers in respect of fourteen or more electoral districts or has nominated more than one hundred and thirty-two candidates for the electoral districts in respect of which it has submitted nomination papers;
(b) in the case of television broadcasting, to use—
(i) a total period of thirty minutes if such party or group has submitted nomination papers for only one electoral district;
(ii) a total period of sixty minutes, if such party or group has submitted nomination papers in respect of more than one but less than fourteen electoral districts or has nominated not less than one hundred and thirty two candidates for the electoral districts in respect of which it has submitted nomination papers;
(iii) a total period of ninety minutes, if such party or group has submitted nomination papers in respect of fourteen or more electoral districts or has nominated more than one hundred and thirty two candidates for the electoral districts in respect of which it has submitted nomination papers.
The time allotted to each recognised political party or independent group in accordance with the provisions of this subsection may be used by such party or group on one or more occasions, so however that the use on each such occasion shall be for a period not less than fifteen minutes and not more than thirty minutes.

(3) Where two or more recognised political parties or in dependent groups agree to debate any matter of national importance, it shall be the duty of the Chairman of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to afford broadcasting facilities to such parties or groups, so however that the time permitted for such de bate shall not exceed the time allotted to each such party or group under subsection (2).

(4) The order in which each recognised political party or independent group shall use the broadcasting facilities shall be determined—
(a) in the first instance by agreement among such parties and groups; or
(b) in the absence of such agreement by lots cast or drawn in such manner as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation may, in his absolute discretion, determine.

(5) The broadcasting facilities under this section shall be used only by a candidate or candidates nominated by any recognised political party or independent group to contest an election under this Act.

(6) No candidate shall, save and except as provided in this section, directly or indirectly use broadcasting facilities for the purpose of promoting his own election.

(7) The Commissioner may permit every recognised political party or independent group to use, in addition to the period allocated to such party or group under subsection (2), broadcasting facilities on radio and television for such periods as may be determined by the Commissioner having regard to the principles set out in subsection (2).

(8) The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Rupavahini Corporation shall ensure that except as provided in the preceding provision of this section no material is broadcast, over the radio or television during the period commencing on the nomination day and ending on the date of declaration of the result, which will have the effect of promoting the candidature of a particular political party or independent group or of a particular candidate. In implementing the provisions of this subsection, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation shall act in consultation with the Commissioner.

(9) For the purpose of this section a person whose name appears in the list of persons submitted by a recognised political party or an independent group contesting a general election, to the Commissioner, under Article 99A of the Constitution, shall be deemed to be a candidate nominated by such recognised political party or independent group, as the case may be, to contest such election.

https://www.srilankalaw.lk/revised-statutes/alphabetical-list-of-statutes/862-parliamentary-elections-act.html 

• According to the Parliamentary Elections Act of Sri Lanka, recognised political parties and independent groups that submit nomination papers are entitled, without payment, to free broadcasting time on state radio and television (the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation) during election periods. The amount of time (30, 60, or 90 minutes) depends on the number of districts or candidates contesting, and additional equal free time may also be granted by the Commissioner of Elections.
• Election Commission of Sri Lanka is also entrusted with the powers, as per the Section 104B (5) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, to issue media guidelines  to any broadcasting or telecasting operator or any proprietor or any publisher of a newspaper. These are applicable to  both state and private media institutions. However, generally the guidelines are about fair coverage and non-discrimination. For instance, see https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/media-guidlines/2024/PRE_2394_57_E.pdf (Constitution: https://www.parliament.lk/files/pdf/constitution.pdf)