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Best way to handle money in Sri Lanka - cash, cards or app?

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O
Omar Bakir•90820 rep•2

With the economy stabilizing, what's the smartest way to pay in 2026? Should I still carry lots of cash?

6
budget-travel

4 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

Cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted now in tourist areas, hotels, and bigger restaurants. However, small shops, tuk-tuks, markets, and rural areas are still cash-only. Withdraw from ATMs at banks (Commercial Bank, HNB, Sampath have good networks). Avoid airport ATMs - bad rates. Bring some USD as backup.

26
D
Dilki Gunaratne•504960 rep•1

Wise card + cash backup plan sounds good. Thanks.

45
O
Omar Bakir•90820 rep•2

I recommend withdrawing 20,000-30,000 LKR at a time from a bank ATM in a city. Keep some smaller notes for tips and street food. Apple Pay/Google Pay works at some modern places now.

40
S
Sunil Jayawardena•591690 rep•1

I used my Wise card and it worked everywhere cards were accepted. Got decent rates. Still needed cash for tuk-tuks and small eateries.

23
M
Marco Rossi•84965 rep•2

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