Use of Euros in Sri Lanka, will they be accepted for small purchases?
Am cruising in a few weeks time & wondering what currency I should take ashore in Sri Lanka as will only be there for one day & will be going on a pre organized tour. Thought a very small amount of local currency would be appropriate for purchase of water, tips etc., but the Rupee is very hard to get hold of in Australia. Would Euros be acceptable for small purchases or what would you suggest?
Best Answer
From a friend who is currently travelling in Sri Lanka, and is a reasonably experienced solo-traveller:
I don't think so, from what I've seen. It's easy enough to change money though - can do so at the airport and banks for a not unreasonable amount. They'll change Aussie, Euro and USD.
Certainly, if there's a better solution your cruise briefing when you arrive will let you know, but in the meantime, we also have a question on exchanging AUD before arrival which may be of use.
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How much cash can you take into Sri Lanka?
Currency restrictions Apart from Indian rupee and Pakistani rupee, bringing foreign currencies into Sri Lanka are not restricted but all amounts over US$15,000 must be declared at customs.Is Sri Lanka a closed currency?
Exchange rateSri Lankan Rupee is a closed currency which means it is not available to buy or sell outside of Sri Lanka. One can buy LKR at the Sri Lankan airport or currency outlets available throughout the country.What currency does Sri Lanka accept?
If you're planning a holiday in Sri Lanka, this is what you need to know about currency, cash and credit cards. Sri Lanka's official currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee. Bank notes come in denominations of 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 rupees, and coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 rupees.Is it better to exchange money in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lankan rupees is a closed currency. You will not get a good rate for them outside of Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is best to exchange your money when you arrive in Sri Lanka.How RBI's STRATEGY will KILL the US DOLLAR dominance in the world economy? : Rupee Vs Dollar War
More answers regarding use of Euros in Sri Lanka, will they be accepted for small purchases?
Answer 2
Not a chance. But for small purchases, you can use credit/debit cards. They're widely accepted and card scamming is much rarer than in the ROW. Any major supermaket (Every notable town has at least one) accepts them.
Answer 3
No you can't use Euros here. You can exchange them to LKR at the airport or from a bank. They accept foreign currency exchanges and the service is quite fast.
However, if you're in the airport and wants to buy something from the duty free shops, they do accept USD and EURO
Answer 4
Exchange counters at Sri Lankan airport are open 24hrs. Just carry money in some major currency -USD, EURO, AUD etc and exchange it when you arrive. Convert it back to your currency while leaving Sri Lanka. Most of the banks at Colombo offer a little better rate than the counters at airport, but it is not worth spending a day at Colombo just for this.
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