Money in Sri Lanka: Changing RM/SGD to LKR, Cards & ATMs

5 hours ago

6 min read

Planning your Sri Lanka trip and wondering what to do about money? Should you change ringgit or Singapore dollars before you fly, bring US dollars, or just use your card? This guide answers every money question Malaysian and Singaporean travelers ask us.

The quick answer:

Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). You can't easily get it before you travel, so plan to get rupees after you land.
US dollars get the best exchange rates. You can exchange ringgit and Singapore dollars at money changers in Colombo and at the airport, but the rates are usually less favorable.
Cards work well at hotels, malls and bigger restaurants. Carry cash for tuk-tuks, small shops, temple entrance fees, and tips.
ATMs are easy to find in towns and cities. Expect a fee of about LKR 400 to 1,000 per withdrawal at many banks.

Sri Lankan rupee basics

The Sri Lankan rupee is written as LKR, Rs, or රු. Notes come in 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 rupees, and coins come in 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees.

How far does your money go? At current rates:

You have	You get (approx.)
RM1	LKR 82
RM100	LKR 8,200
S$1	LKR 260
S$100	LKR 26,000
US$1	LKR 335

What things cost in Sri Lanka:

Item	Price in LKR	About RM	About S$
King coconut from a roadside stall	150 – 250	RM2 – RM3	S$0.60 – S$1
Rice and curry lunch at a local restaurant	800 – 1,500	RM10 – RM18	S$3 – S$6
Short tuk-tuk ride in town	300 – 600	RM4 – RM7	S$1 – S$2.30
Pot of Ceylon tea at a café	500 – 1,000	RM6 – RM12	S$2 – S$4
Dinner at a tourist restaurant	3,000 – 6,000	RM37 – RM73	S$12 – S$23

Exchange rates change daily. Prices are typical estimates.

Currency exchange: RM, SGD, or USD?

Which currency to bring

Currency	Can you change it in Sri Lanka?	Rate	Our tip
US dollar (USD)	Yes, everywhere	Best	Bring clean, undamaged notes, ideally US$50 and US$100
Singapore dollar (SGD)	Yes, at the airport and most Colombo money changers	Fair, wider spread	Fine for small amounts
Malaysian ringgit (RM)	Yes, at the airport and some Colombo money changers	Less favourable	Change RM to USD in Malaysia first
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)	Hard to buy outside Sri Lanka	–	Get rupees after you land

For Malaysians: change your ringgit to US dollars at a money changer in Malaysia before you fly, then change USD to rupees in Sri Lanka. This usually gives a better overall rate than changing RM directly.

For Singaporeans: most money changers accept SGD, but USD usually gets a better rate. You can also use a travel card for card payments (see below).

Where to change money

At the airport: exchange counters are in the arrival hall, after baggage claim. Change enough for your first day or two.
Licensed money changers in Colombo: usually the best rates, especially around Galle Road and the Fort area.
Banks: reliable rates but shorter opening hours.
Hotels: convenient but usually the worst rates.

Keep your exchange receipts. You'll need them to change leftover rupees back to foreign currency before you leave.

Customs limits

You can bring in any amount of foreign currency, but you must declare amounts of US$15,000 or more (or the equivalent) on arrival.
You must declare foreign currency over US$10,000 when you leave.
Sri Lankan rupee cash is limited to LKR 20,000 in or out.

Using cards in Sri Lanka

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, shopping malls, supermarkets, larger restaurants and souvenir shops. American Express and Diners Club are accepted less often.

You'll still need cash for: tuk-tuks, local restaurants and street food, small shops and markets, temple donations, and tips.

Which card to bring

Malaysians: a travel-friendly card like BigPay, Wise or a bank card with low foreign transaction fees will save you money compared with a regular debit card.
Singaporeans: cards like YouTrip, Trust, Revolut or Wise charge little or no foreign transaction fee on card payments.
Credit cards: handy for hotels and big purchases, but most banks add a foreign transaction fee of about 1% to 3%. Avoid using a credit card at ATMs, as cash advances are charged high fees and interest.

Always pay in rupees (LKR)

Some card machines and ATMs offer to charge you in RM or SGD instead of rupees. This is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and the rate is usually poor. Always pay in LKR and let your bank do the conversion.

Tip: let your bank know you're traveling to Sri Lanka, and keep a backup card in a separate bag.

ATMs in Sri Lanka

ATMs are easy to find in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Negombo, and most towns. They are harder to find in rural areas and national parks, so withdraw cash before you head out.

Currency: ATMs dispense only Sri Lankan rupees.
Withdrawal limits: usually LKR 25,000 to 200,000 per transaction, depending on the bank and your card.
Fees: many banks charge foreign cards about LKR 400 to 1,000 (about RM5 to RM12, or S$1.50 to S$4) per withdrawal. Some banks, such as Commercial Bank and Bank of Ceylon, are often reported by travelers to have lower or no fees for foreign cards, though this depends on your card.
Your own bank's fees: your home bank may also charge an overseas withdrawal fee. Check before you travel.

ATM tips:

Withdraw larger amounts less often to save on per-withdrawal fees.
Use ATMs inside banks or malls, which are safer and less likely to keep your card.
When the ATM asks whether to convert the amount, choose "Decline conversion" or "Charge in LKR".
Airport ATMs can charge higher fees, so withdraw only what you need on arrival.

How much cash should you bring?

If your hotels, transport, and sightseeing are already covered by a package, you'll mainly need cash for meals, tips, entrance fees not included in your package, and small purchases.

Trip length	Suggested cash per person
5 days	US$150 – US$250 (about RM600 – RM1,000, or S$190 – S$320)
8 days	US$250 – US$400 (about RM1,000 – RM1,600, or S$320 – S$510)

Bring a mix of cash and cards, and add extra if you plan to buy gems, tea, or souvenirs.

6 money tips for Sri Lanka

Carry small notes. Tuk-tuk drivers and small shops often don't have change for LKR 5,000 notes.
Bring clean US dollar notes. Torn, marked, or very old notes may be refused.
Agree on prices first. Confirm tuk-tuk fares before you get in, or use a ride-hailing app like PickMe or Uber in cities.
Check the bill. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge, so you may not need to tip extra.
Spend your rupees before you fly. It's hard to change rupees outside Sri Lanka.
Ask about tax refunds. Shops showing a "Tax Free for Tourists" sign may offer a VAT refund on larger purchases. Keep your receipts and claim at the airport before check-in.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Malaysian ringgit in Sri Lanka?

Not for payments. You'll need to change ringgit to rupees at a money changer, but rates are better if you change to USD in Malaysia first.

Can I use Singapore dollars in Sri Lanka?

Not for everyday payments, but most money changers in Colombo and at the airport will exchange SGD.

Can I pay in US dollars?

Some hotels and tour operators accept USD, but shops and restaurants usually expect rupees.

Should I change money before I fly?

You can change RM or SGD to US dollars before you fly if you like, but get rupees in Sri Lanka, where the rates are better.

Are ATMs safe in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Use ATMs inside banks or shopping malls, cover your PIN, and avoid withdrawing at night in quiet areas.

Travel Sri Lanka with less cash stress

With a D Asia Travels package, you pay upfront in RM or SGD for hotels, private transport, and sightseeing, so you only need pocket money for meals, tips, and shopping. D Asia Travels is a MOTAC-licensed travel agency (KPL 6640) and MATTA member, serving travellers since 2009.

👉 Browse our Sri Lanka Tour Packages or WhatsApp us at +60 12-214 0469 to plan your trip.

Exchange rates, bank fees and customs rules change often. Information is correct as of October 2026.