Money, UPI and SIM cards in Sri Lanka

UPI went live in Sri Lanka in February 2024 through LankaPay. If you see a LankaQR code, many Indian UPI apps can scan and pay it in rupees from your Indian account.

Paying

UPI: works at LankaQR merchants in cities and tourist areas. Check your app supports international UPI and enable it before you fly.
Cards: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, malls and restaurants.
Cash: carry Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) for tuk tuks, temples and small shops. ATMs are common in towns.

SIM cards

Buy a tourist SIM at Colombo airport arrivals from Dialog, SLT Mobitel or Hutch. Bring your passport. Data packs are inexpensive and coverage is good along tourist routes. Indian international roaming works but costs more.

Time zone

None to worry about. Sri Lanka runs on UTC+5:30, the same as IST.

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Quick answers

Can I use UPI in Sri Lanka?

Yes. UPI works at merchants displaying LankaQR, following the February 2024 launch with LankaPay. Enable international UPI in your app before travelling.

Which SIM is best in Sri Lanka for tourists?

Dialog, SLT Mobitel and Hutch all sell tourist SIMs at Colombo airport. Dialog generally has the widest coverage.

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