This guide will help you gain an in-depth understanding of the various formal ways you can use to send money to Sri Lanka, the information required, the regulatory framework, and factors that you need to consider when sending.
Sending money to Sri Lanka is simple and easy. Follow these steps to get started.
There are multiple ways to easily send and receive money in Sri Lanka but these will largely depend on the provider you decide to use. Below you will find everything you need to know about sending and receiving money.
Whether you are sending money to your family in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, districts in the northern and eastern regions or other areas in Sri Lanka, your target should be to find the cheapest provider that will help you save on fees and exchange rates. Safety of transfers, sending limits and receiving limits are major concerns that you need to look at.
There are various ways you can send money to Sri Lanka. You can use international wire transfers, online money transfer services, and in-store sending options.
The banking system in Sri Lanka is well-diversified. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the regulatory authority of the banking sector. This sector comprises state-owned commercial banks, private domestic banks, foreign banks, development banks, housing banks, and national savings banks.
When sending to a bank in Sri Lanka, your transfer may be deposited directly or it may pass through intermediary banks before it is credited to the recipient’s account. The latter is normally costly and may take additional days for the money to get to your family.
Thanks to recent development, thousands of Sri Lankan workers in Saudi Arabia can now send money to Sri Lanka through the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, one of the leading banks in the country. This was made possible after the bank entered into partnerships with representatives in Saudi Arabia such as National Commercial Bank, Arab National Bank, Al Bilad Bank, and Al Rajhi Bank.
International wire transfers typically take between 3 and 5 days to be completed. However, without having a bank account in the sending country, you cannot use this service.
The largest banks per share of remittances in Sri Lanka are Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Peoples Bank (PB), Seylan Bank (SyB), Commercial Bank (CB), Hatton National Bank (HNB) and Sampath Bank (SaB).
In the North and East regions of the country where inter-ethnic clashes have been rampant, residents have to contend with limited access to formal banking. When sending to these border villages, bank transfers may not be the appropriate way of moving funds.
Most of the remittances to Sri Lanka especially from Asia and the Middle East, are made through online money transfer providers. These sending options give you a better rate, low transaction fees, and faster delivery times.
The providers differ depending on the transfer corridor. For instance, if you are sending from the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka, you will find providers such as GCC Exchange, Al Fardan Exchange, Ezremit among others.
If you are sending from the United Kingdom, providers such as Azimo, WorldRemit, Small World, Xpress Money, Ria, Fast Cash, and Lyca Remit can be your go-to options.
Most of the providers will require you to open an account with them, pay for your transfer, and then choose a payout option which could be cash pickup or direct bank deposit. A number of money transfer providers have mobile applications on both Android and iOS platforms to enable you to send on the go.
Other big names in this category include TransferWise, OFX, WorldFirst, TorFX, Xoom, Currencies Direct, and Transfast.
Western Union and MoneyGram are two of the most frequently used money transfer operators in this category. In addition to the online transfer option they give you, you can also send money to your family in Sri Lanka through their agency network.
Depending on the country you are sending from, you will find most of these agents in grocery stores, supermarkets, mailbox centres, travel agencies, drug stores, and so forth. For instance, Western Union allows you to send money directly to your recipient’s bank account or to an agent location near them. With as little as $4 transfer fee, you can send to your loved ones conveniently and fast.
Once you sign up for an online account, you choose the payout method, provide the recipient information and how you wish to pay for your transfer. There are several ways you can pay for your transfer. Some providers such as Xoom will allow you to pay through a direct bank debit, credit card, or debit card. Others such as OFX restrict their payment methods to bank transfers.
Credit cards and debit cards cost a little more, but they ensure funds are available for transfer faster than the other methods.
When sending money to Sri Lanka, you will be asked for specific information by the providers so that they can identify you and the recipient. Most of this information will be captured when signing up for the account. Regulatory bodies such as FCA and FINTRAC may require certain information to be captured by money transfer service providers. Some of the information you will need to provide include:
Depending on the country you are sending from, you may be asked to disclose the source and purpose of the money.
There are various ways you can receive money in Sri Lanka. This will depend on the mode of transfer used. The following are the two main ways you can receive money in this country.
Direct Bank Deposits – The person sending can choose a bank transfer as the payout method and have the funds directly deposited into the recipient’s account. Depending on the bank you are transferring to, the time of the day, and the day of the week, bank transfers may take 2 to 3 days to get to the recipient.
Cash Pickups – Most money transfer providers including Western Union, WorldRemit, and MoneyGram, can send directly to a cash pickup location near the recipient. Cash pickups are normally instant.
Most providers have agreements with local banks in Sri Lanka to facilitate transfers. For instance, WorldRemit has partnered with Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank, National Development Bank, Cargills Bank, and Bank of Ceylon. It is also common to find money transfer service providers linking up with local providers to expand their access to their target market.
When the money gets to Sri Lanka, you will be notified through SMS, email or both. To collect the money, you will need the following information and documents.
Looking at the transfer narrations given to the various money transfer providers, the following reasons stand out as the most common for people remitting money to Sri Lanka.
Instances of floods, earthquakes, and other disasters receive an overwhelming response in terms of financial assistance from the diaspora. Even at a family level, emergencies do arise such as sicknesses and deaths which require diaspora Sri Lankans to send in their support.
To support family income, Sri Lankans abroad send money on a regular basis mostly on month ends. This takes care of the day-to-day living expenses.
Some Sri Lankans send money home for tuition fees for their siblings or direct family members.
Investing back home remains one of the greatest pull factors for Sri Lankans in the diaspora. Most of the investments are in real estate, stock market and entrepreneurial ventures.
During festivals such as Vesak Poya, Poson Poya Festival, and Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the size and frequency of remittances to Sri Lanka usually increase.
Money transfer services have proved to be convenient, fast, and simple for people sending to Sri Lanka and other countries. Below are some of the reasons why you should try out a money transfer service provider for your next transfer.
There are several factors that you need to bear in mind when sending money to your family and friends in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, if you want to send money to Sri Lanka, you need to understand the remittance market, the players involved, what’s needed for you to send and receive money and the factors to bear in mind when sending.
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to the Sri Lanka. If you're looking to send money to another country, here is the list of the most popular destinations.
Jonathan is the founder and editor of MoneyTransfers.com. Jonathan is highly experienced in the currency transfer market, having previously worked in the FX trading industry, alongside being an avid traveller. Using his knowledge he identified a need for transparency and further education to help people save money on their money transfers, leading to the creation of MoneyTransfers.com