16 Sep 2026
Meeting with the Event Management Association
## ACPOSL Holds Constructive Dialogue with the Event Management Association of Sri Lanka The **Association of Creators and Publishers of Sri Lanka (ACPOSL)** recently held a…
Association of Creators and Publishers of Sri Lanka
Music works for the people who make it
ACPOSL licenses the public use of music in Sri Lanka and pays royalties to the composers, lyricists and publishers behind it.
Registered with NIPO · View certificate
Chinthaka JayakodyACPOSL leadership team
Get paid when your music plays
From a radio play to a sold-out concert, ACPOSL licenses the public use of your music and pays you the royalties you've earned.
Dharshana Ruwan DissanayakeACPOSL leadership team
Set the mood, legally
Hotels, cafés, shops and event organisers need a licence to play music in public. Find the one that fits your business.
Behind every song you hear is a composer, a lyricist and a publisher. We make sure they're paid when it's played in public.
Step 1
Protect
Composers, lyricists and publishers join ACPOSL and register their works. We look after their performing rights under the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003.
Step 2
Collect
Hotels, shops, broadcasters, event organisers and other music users pay ACPOSL a licence fee, set by the tariff in the Government Gazette.
Step 3
Distribute
We match music-use reports to our register of works and pay royalties to each rights holder, following ACPOSL's Distribution Rules.
Annual report 2025–2026
Read about ACPOSL's work over the year. Audit reports and our NIPO registration are on the Reports page.
PDF, 20.8 MB
The people behind ACPOSL
A board of experienced music professionals, publishers and industry leaders.
Nilar N. Cassim
Chairman
Ranga Dasanayake
Chief Executive Officer
Sarath De Alwis
Rohana Weerasinghe
Bathiya Jayakody
Amith Liyanage
Chinthaka Jayakody
Nisal Gamage
Dharshana Ruwan Dissanayake
Lasitha Jayaneththi Arachchige
- Meet the whole team
Thinking of joining ACPOSL?
Who can join ACPOSL?
Composers, lyricists, songwriters, arrangers and music publishers who own or control the copyright in musical works. People who have inherited those rights can join as legal heirs.
Associate membership is open to anyone else with a professional interest in music, such as educators, producers, managers and students. Associate members don't receive royalties.
How do I join?
Complete the membership application form, submit the required documents, register your musical works and sign the rights mandate. Once your application is approved, ACPOSL starts licensing and collecting royalties for your works. Read the full membership guide.
How are my royalties worked out?
Broadcasters, venues, event organisers and other licensed users report the music they use. ACPOSL matches those reports against its register of works to find the rights holders, then pays each one under the Distribution Rules. You receive a statement showing what you earned. How royalties work.
My song has co-writers. How is it split?
Royalties are shared according to the ownership shares registered for the work, between its composers, lyricists and publishers. Agree the shares with your co-writers and record them on a split sheet (PDF, 4.7 MB).
Need a licence to play music?
Do I need a licence if I only play the radio or a streaming app in my business?
Yes. Playing music to customers, guests or visitors is a public performance under copyright law, whether it comes from speakers, the radio, television, a streaming service or live musicians.
Who gets the licence for an event?
The event organiser, before the event takes place. Concert organisers also complete the concert application form.
How much does a licence cost?
Fees are set by the tariff published in the Government Gazette of Sri Lanka. What you pay depends on your licence category and how you use music. Read the tariff in English, Sinhala or Tamil.
Are there reduced licences for charities, schools or religious groups?
Yes. Concessionary licences cover non-commercial and socially beneficial uses by registered charities, educational and religious institutions, community and cultural organisations, and government social initiatives.