02 Money and Costs

2.1 Money:
The unit of currency is the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR), which is divided into 100 cents. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and traveller’s cheques in US Dollars are recommended. ATMs are becoming more common, but outside the main cities they are unlikely to accept international cards. Credit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change, banks and hotels, but exchanging cash is more expensive than exchanging traveller’s cheques. Banks are closed on Sundays.


2.2 Currency Exchange Rates
LKR 100.00 = A$ 0.97 C$ 0.92 IRR 8,726.72 NZ$ 1.20 £ 0.47 US$ 0.93 R 7.04

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.


2.3 Credit Cards:
Reputed credit and charge cards are widely accepted by shops in Sri Lanka. In some cases the shops may try to add a surcharge to the price of the merchandise purchased. This is not an acceptable practice and in such cases the card company should be contacted so that corrective action can be taken. These services are available at the Departure lounge and in Kandy and Colombo


2.4 Banking hours:
National banking hours are from 0900 hrs. To 1500 hrs. On weekdays. Banking hours may be different at private banks. Further teller machines (ATM ) are operated through out the day.

Peoples Bank

Foreign Branch, 27, M.I.C.H.
Building Bristol Street
Colombo 1
Tel: 422370
Hours of Business: Weekdays 0900 hrs. to 1600 hrs.
Overseas Customer Unit
Lake Side Complex 38,
D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha,
Colombo 10
Tel 320381, 332746
Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0900 hrs. to 1630 hrs.
Saturdays 0900 hrs. to 1200 hrs.

Headquarters Branch
Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha,
Colombo 2.
Tel 329822,, 447473


Bank of Ceylon Bureau de Change
York street, Colombo 1
Tel 422370
Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0900 hrs. to 1800 hrs.
Holidays - 0900 hrs. to 1600 hrs.



International Airport, Katunayake,
Tel : 452424
Encashment of travellers cheques,
foreign currencies, re-exchange of un-expended Sri Lanka Rupees.
All days 24 hrs services


Sri Lankan Airlines Office
Level 19-22, East Tower, World Trade Centre, Echelon Square,
Colombo 1
Hours of Business: 0900 hrs. to 1500 hrs.



Cey Bank - Travel Centre, Kollupitiya
Hours of Business: Weekdays - 0830 hrs. to 1730 hrs.



2.5 International Commercial Banks
(Operating in Sri Lanka)

• People's Bank Bank of Ceylon
• Deutsche Bank (Asia) Indian Bank State Bank of India
• Standard Chartered Bank
• Habib Bank Ltd Hatton National Bank Ltd.
• Indian Overseas Bank Ltd
• Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Bank
• Indosuez Bank of Credit & Commerce International (Overseas) Ltd.,
• Citibank N.A.
• ANZ Grindlays Bank
• Algemene Bank Nederland N.V.
• Bank of Oman Ltd
• Union Bank of the Middle East Ltd
• Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd
• Habib Bank
• AG Zurich Amro Bank
• Amsterdam Rotterdam Bank N.V.
• Middle East Bank
• Overseas Trust Bank Ltd