Government Film Unit (GFU) Gallery Department of Government Information (DGI), Sri Lanka

History and Founding

The Department of Government Information (DGI) of Sri Lanka was established in 1948 at the Colombo Secretariat Complex, following independence. The first Superintendent of Information guided the department's formation with the mission of communicating government news and activities to the public. The Government Film Unit (GFU) is one of the department's key operating divisions, responsible for the production, display, and preservation of government news films and documentaries.

The GFU Gallery

The GFU Gallery is an online photographic archive hosted on the DGI's official website. It serves as a public-facing digital repository of images documenting Sri Lanka's heads of state and government, official state events, development projects, and other nationally significant activities. The gallery includes dedicated sections such as the Priministers and Presidents of Sri Lanka collection and the Sir John Kotelawala Photo Collection, preserving visual records dating to the colonial and early independence eras.

Collections and Holdings

The GFU Gallery's holdings include official photographs of all Sri Lankan prime ministers and presidents, documentary coverage of state events and development projects, and selected historical photographic series. A companion GFU Video Gallery hosts government documentary films. The Photography Unit and GFU work alongside other DGI divisions including the Publicity Unit, Publication Bureau, Media Accreditation Unit, and the Research and Monitoring Unit to support the government's information mandate.

Access and Usage

The gallery is freely accessible online through the DGI's official website at dgi.gov.lk. Images and videos are organized by subject and leader. Researchers and journalists seeking media accreditation or access to archival press materials may contact the department directly.