How to send money to Sri Lanka from India with the best INR-LKR rate

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Sri Lank Rupee when you send Indian Rupee to Sri Lanka.

The current exchange rate between the Indian Rupee and Sri Lank Rupee is 3.5359, and it constantly fluctuates.

When calculating the cost of sending money from India to Sri Lanka, a combination of fees and exchange rates ensure the best deal:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current INR-LKR mid-market rate is 3.5359 LKR per Indian Rupee. Finding a provider as close to this number as possible will ensure more Sri Lank Rupee for your money.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged on top of a transfer. Ria Money Transfer currently offers the lowest fees of 4 INR per transfer (based on ₹22,100 transfer). Although, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The total amount received in Sri Lank Rupee is the biggest indicator in the total cost of sending money to India from Sri Lanka. The higher the total amount received in Sri Lanka, the lower the cost of sending from India.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more LKR for the same amount of Indian Rupee. But, the best way to lock in a price between India and Sri Lanka is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is our recommended option for money transfers between India and Sri Lanka. Ria Money Transfer offers the best price on a bank transfer.

Here are all the ways to send money from India to Sri Lanka:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the best payment method for money transfers from India to Sri Lanka.

A money transfer company like Ria Money Transfer offer bank transfers between India and Sri Lanka with lower fees and better exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.

On average, Ria Money Transfer is the cheapest provider for bank transfers of the 5 we tested when sending INR to Sri Lanka.

Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from India to Sri Lanka with a debit or a prepaid card is very simple with Western Union Agent.


Western Union Agent is a leader in debit card payments for transfers from India to Sri Lanka, competing among a total of 5 active money transfer companies on this route.

Credit cards

We recommend avoiding credit cards where possible due to a lack of support and high fees.

If you have to use a credit card, we recommend comparing your options to find the company with the lowest fees.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both India and Sri Lanka to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between India and Sri Lanka.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from India to Sri Lanka.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using Wise if you need to send large amounts of INR to Sri Lanka. The combination of rates and fees when sending to Sri Lanka is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving India, or entering Sri Lanka. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in Sri Lanka. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from India to Sri Lanka will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from India into Sri Lank Rupee. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between India and Sri Lanka.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between India and Sri Lanka.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Ria Money Transfer.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between India and Sri Lanka, you will need to verify your ID.

The exact documents you need might vary and in some cases you will need more than one.

For the most part, in India this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In Sri Lanka it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in Sri Lanka, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between India and Sri Lanka, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend Wise in part due to their easy sign up process in India.

When sending large amounts of money between India and Sri Lanka there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into Sri Lank Rupee may need to be reported to tax authorities in Sri Lanka, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in Sri Lanka based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in India or Sri Lanka to discuss your personal circumstances.