How do I buy Sri Lankan rupees?
Using our comparison form at the top of the page, enter the amount of Sri Lankan rupees you want to buy, select your preferred payment method(s) and click 'Compare Deals'. We'll return a list of UK currency suppliers who are selling Sri Lankan rupees right now along with their latest exchange rates and delivery information. The results are sorted in order of who is offering the most Sri Lankan rupees after all fees and delivery charges have been added which means the best deals are always at the top of the table. Choose the supplier you want to order with and follow the link to their website where you can place your order with them directly.
When is the best time to buy Sri Lankan rupees?
The golden question! You can use tools like our historical Sri Lankan rupee rate chart to identify overall trends in the market which may help you to decide if now is a good time to buy relative to the past. You can also hedge your bets by buying half your currency now and half just before you travel. If you need to buy Sri Lankan rupees within the next couple of weeks, it's likely that the day-to-day changes in the exchange rate won't make a huge difference to the amount of currency you'll receive anyway, so unless you're buying tens of thousands of pounds worth our advice is to not worry about trying to perfectly time the market and instead just buy whenever is most convenient for you.
If you have more time before you need to buy, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter where we often feature currency sales and special deals ahead of time. In any case, you can be confident that the rates we compare above are some of the best on the market and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal online or in the high street.
Can I collect my Sri Lankan rupees in person?
Yes, some currency suppliers do allow you to collect Sri Lankan rupees from them in person. We have a dedicated Click & Collect page where you can find the nearest supplier in your area. If you plan on collecting in person, we recommend ordering or reserving your Sri Lankan rupees online first on the supplier's website to guarantee the exchange rate. Some suppliers offer lower exchange rates if you walk in off the street, but you can usually order online in advance and collect your currency in store at the better online rate.
How long does Delivery take?
Most currency suppliers will dispatch your order on the same or next working day after they receive your payment, and all orders are sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. However, just in case any unexpected delays crop up we recommend ordering no later than 3 working days before you are due to travel. If you've left it too late for home delivery, check out our Click & Collect page to find a local Sri Lankan rupee supplier near you. We cover most UK airports, so in the worst case scenario you can reserve your currency online (at the better online rate) and pick it up from the departure lounge before you fly.
Do I have to be at home when my currency is delivered?
No. All currency is sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. Somebody at your address will need to sign for the package but if nobody is home when the postman attempts to deliver, they'll leave a missed delivery card and you can either collect the package from your nearest sorting office or arrange for it to be re-delivered on a more convenient day.
Can I have my Sri Lankan rupees sent to a different address?
Generally, no. This is ultimately at the discretion of the currency supplier, but most suppliers will only deliver to the home address of the person paying for the currency (i.e. the card or bank account holder's address). This is for security reasons because a signature is required when the currency is delivered, and signatures from work or other addresses can be unreliable and difficult to prove.
What happens if the package goes missing during delivery?
All currency is sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. This type of postage is more secure than standard post and is meant specifically for high-value and important items because tracking is enabled by default and a signature is required as proof of delivery. It is very rare for a Special Delivery package to go missing, but in the unlikely event that it does you will be completely reimbursed by Royal Mail for the full value of the currency and the cost of postage.
What payment method should I use?
The payment method you choose is important because it affects whether or not you pay any extra fees during checkout, and also whether you are financially protected in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the supplier. We have written a more detailed guide about choosing a payment method on our blog: A guide to payment methods.
Are there any limits on the amount of Sri Lankan rupees I can order?
Most, but not all, currency suppliers have a minimum and a maximum amount you can order from them, however we automatically factor these into our comparisons so if you tell us exactly how much you want to spend we'll only return suppliers that can fulfill your request. Most suppliers also have a minimum amount that you can order from them to qualify for free home delivery; if you order less than this amount you can still get your order delivered by you'll have to pay for postage. Again, we automatically factor these charges into our comparisons so you don't need to worry about any hidden costs during checkout.
Is ordering online safe and secure?
All of the currency suppliers we compare use SSL encryption as standard on their ordering pages. This means that when you place an order, a secure connection is created between you and the supplier and your personal and payment details are transmitted using the same level of encryption as online banking.
Am I financially protected if something goes wrong with the supplier?
The level of financial protection you receive is determined by the payment method you choose. For more information see our FAQ above: What payment method should I use?
What checks does Compare Holiday Money carry out on the listed suppliers?
All currency suppliers are required to complete a comprehensive onboarding questionnaire before we list them on the Compare Holiday Money website. This questionnaire provides us with information on the supplier's background, financial history, directors and technical capabilities, as well as document any legal and regulatory requirements the supplier may have. Our compliance team verify the answers by cross-referencing them with various online registers such as Companies House, the Supervised Business Register and the Financial Conduct Authority, and we then make a decision as to whether to list them. Once a supplier has been listed we run regular audits to check the ongoing status and accuracy of the information provided, and if any issues are flagged up we immediately suspend the listing until the supplier corrects the issue or provides us with clarification. Despite these stringent checks, we cannot guarantee the solvency of any suppliers who appear on the Compare Holiday Money website and we urge all customers to conduct their own research before transacting with a company.
Do I need to provide ID or other documents?
It depends. You may need to provide some ID, typically a copy of your passport or driver's licence, depending on how much currency you are ordering. Most suppliers won't ask for ID if you're ordering less than £1,000 but most will if you're ordering £2,500 or more. If you're ordering £10,000 or more you may need to provide additional information on the source of the funds. The exact requirements vary from supplier to supplier, but they will make it clear what form(s) of ID and other documents they require before you place an order.
Can I sell back any unused Sri Lankan rupees?
Yes, we have a section of our website dedicated to currency buybacks: Exchange Sri Lankan rupees for pounds sterling.
Can I send money to a bank account in Sri Lanka instead?
Yes, we can facilitate the transfer of currency into an overseas bank account; see our Money Transfers page for more information.
The Sri Lankan rupee is the official currency of the Democratic Socialist Reublic of Sri Lanka. the currency code is LKR and the symbols are රු, (Sinhala) ரூ, (Tamil) Rs (English). The Sri Lankan rupee was issued to replace the Indian rupee which had been the currency of Sri Lanka when it was known as 'Ceylon'. The currency is issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Banknotes are printed by De La Rue Lanka Currency and Security Print Ltd and coins minted by the Royal Mint in the UK.
One Sri Lankan rupee can be subdivided into 100 cents. All coins feature the Armorial Ensign of the Republic of Sri Lanka along with the value in numerals and in Sinhala, Tamil and English, the year of issue and "Sri Lanka" in Sinhala across the top. Coins are are minted in denominations of Rs1, Rs2, Rs5 and Rs10. 25 and 50 cent coins are also in circulation but are rarely used due to their low value. Banknotes are produced in denominations of Rs20, Rs50, Rs100, Rs500, Rs1000 and Rs5000. All Sri Lankan banknotes feature images of former prime ministers and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side, and Sri Lankan fauna and flora, landscapes and other images depicting Sri Lankan culture, history and achievements on the other side.
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