Colombo - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are increasingly widely accepted and generally safe. Outside of Colombo you may have more difficulty. Always carry some cash. - Mar 2021
Everyone still prefers cash here. Some places will charge you less if you pay cash instead of with a credit card. But you can use credit cards at most places. There are a lot of ATMs and they've never given me a problem. - Sep 2020
Credit cards are widely accepted. I tend to get cash from the Embassy cashier or the on-site ATM, but there are ATMs at the big banks. As far as I know, they are safe to use. - Apr 2020
We use our credit card most places. We don't use ATMs but many of our friends do - they tend to use the ones at banks or inside hotels. I don't use my credit card if it's being taken off somewhere other than at hotel restaurants. I use it when it's being charged in front of me. - Sep 2017
Yes. You can use cards most anywhere, however we preferred to get cash (ATM at Embassy or a well-lit, large bank ATM in town) and use cash instead! - Mar 2017
Bank machines are available but not always reliable. Credit card information can be stolen. We always use cash. - Sep 2013
There are over 1,000 ATMs on the island. - Sep 2012
Don't use credit cards and ATMs. Credit card theft is rampant in Sri Lanka, even at the big name-brand hotels. - Dec 2011
We use ATMs mainly at the HSBC and we use our credit card to pay for groceries etc. - Feb 2010
Don't use your credit card for anything but cash from a Hong Kong Shanghai Bank ATM. Even then watch for it being compromised. - Sep 2008
Available everywhere. - Feb 2008
