Money, cards & ATMs
Rupees day-to-day: where cards work, how to use ATMs safely, exchanging cash, tipping norms, and a simple daily float strategy.
Currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Card acceptance is strong in Colombo, Galle Fort hotels, chain restaurants, and larger supermarkets (Cargills, Keells). Carry cash for tuk-tuks, markets, small eateries, tips, temple donations, park tickets, and rural tea-country stops. Visa and Mastercard dominate; Amex and UnionPay work mainly at upscale hotels and some airport counters. Contactless works in malls but is patchy in beach towns.
Before you fly
enable overseas use on at least two cards, turn on SMS/app alerts, and confirm your phone can receive OTP codes abroad (roaming or eSIM). Carry a debit card for ATMs and a credit card for hotels. Never rely on a single plastic.
ATM walkthrough
Prefer machines attached to major banks (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath, BOC) in daylight. Decline dynamic currency conversion and take LKR. Local ATM fees are often a few hundred LKR per withdrawal (sometimes up to ~1,000); your home bank may add more — withdraw larger amounts less often. Limits commonly sit around 25,000–100,000+ LKR per pull depending on the bank. Skip airport ATMs except for emergency cash; rates and fees are usually worse than town machines.
Cash exchange
Change only taxi-and-snack money at the airport, then use licensed bank counters or hotel cashiers. USD, EUR and GBP are widely changed; bring clean, newer notes. Keep mid-size LKR notes for tuk-tuks — drivers may struggle to change a 5,000 note for a short hop. Avoid random street exchangers.
Tipping culture
Not compulsory, but appreciated. Round up short tuk-tuk fares; tip drivers and guides a few thousand LKR (or a few USD equivalent) per day on private tours; leave about 5–10% in restaurants if service is not already included. Safari trackers and hotel porters expect small cash thanks.
Daily float
Start each morning with enough LKR for water, snacks, entry tickets, and two short tuk-tuk rides so a card outage never strands you. Keep a backup card in your hotel safe. For large tour balances, prefer bank transfer or card to the operator’s official account rather than handing thick cash envelopes to strangers.
