Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath has commented on claims circulating on social media suggesting that payments must be made to lyricists or music creators for singing songs at hotels or wedding receptions.
The Minister stated that such claims are misleading and noted that he had discussed the matter with the Association of Music Creators and Music Publishers of Sri Lanka (ACPOSL). He clarified that royalties do not need to be paid to music directors or lyricists simply for singing songs at venues like hotels or weddings; rather, such payments are required only when a musical program is organized with the aim of making a profit specifically through the sale of tickets in which case the lyricist and music creator should receive a share of the revenue generated.
Noting that Sri Lanka, like the rest of the world, has laws governing intellectual property thereby entitling lyricists and music composers to benefits commensurate with the value of their creations the Minister emphasized that there is no law mandating payment simply for singing a song at a hotel, a wedding, or other celebratory events