34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?

Source: 

Section 117, Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981 

117. Broadcasts by candidates.
(1) Each candidate 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, upon application made in that behalf within one week from the date of nomination, be entitled to the use of broadcasting facilities during the period commencing from the day after the last date fixed for making such application and ending seventy-two hours prior to the commencement of the poll.

(2) In the allocation of broadcasting time during the period referred to in subsection (1) to any candidate who makes an application in that behalf, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation shall ensure that each such candidate shall be permitted, without payment, to use—
(a) in the case of radio broadcasting, a total period not exceeding ninety minutes which may be used on one occasion and not more than three occasions, the use on each such occasion being for not less than fifteen minutes and not more than thirty minutes.
(b) in the case of television broadcasting, a total period not exceeding ninety minutes, which may be used on one occasion or not more than three occasions, the use on each such occasion being for not less than fifteen minutes and not more than thirty minutes.

(3) Where two or more candidates agree to debate any matter of national importance over the radio or television, it shall be the duty of the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation or the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to afford facilities for that purpose, on payment made therefor. The period allocated to any candidate for that purpose on. radio or television shall not exceed forty-five minutes, which shall be in addition to the period allocated to the use of such candidate under subsection (2).

(4) The order in which each candidate shall use the broadcasting facilities shall be determined—
(a) in the first instance by agreement among the candidates; 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) 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.

(6) The Commissioner may permit every candidate to use, without payment and in addition to the periods allocated to such candidate under subsections (2) and (3), broadcasting facilities on radio and television for such equal periods as may be determined by the Commissioner having regard to the principals set out in subsection (2).

(7) The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka “Rupavahini Corporation shall ensure, that except as provided in the preceding provision of this section, no material is broadcast over the radio or the television, during the period commencing on the day of nomination and ending on the date of declaration of the result, which will have the effect of promoting, directly or indirectly, the candidature of any candidate at the election. The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation shall act in consultation with the Commissioner in implementing the provision of this subsection.

https://www.srilankalaw.lk/p/921-presidential-elections-act.html

• Presidential Elections Act of Sri Lanka provides free state media access (the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation) to candidates during election periods. Each candidate is entitled, without payment, to up to 90 minutes of radio broadcasting and 90 minutes of television broadcasting, split across up to three slots. The Commissioner of Elections may also grant additional equal free time to all candidates.
• 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)