UPI payments now accepted in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka just made life easier for Indian travelers. Now you can pay instantly using your favorite UPI apps, reducing the need to carry physical cash or cards.
The system, launched by the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, is a joint effort between LankaPay and NPCI International.
How it works
Indian tourists can simply scan LankaQR codes at places like Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista cafes, Keells Supermarket, and Odel to pay directly from their phones.
The expansion of UPI merchant acceptance in Sri Lanka was reported in March 2026.
Expanding reach
LankaPay is working to expand UPI acceptance across tourist locations in Sri Lanka and aims to increase UPI coverage across the country over time.
With India already sending over 400,000 visitors in 2024 alone, this move should make trips smoother (and shopping sprees easier).
Benefits for merchants
For Sri Lankan merchants, this means more Indian customers without cash hassles—plus safer transactions and better record-keeping.
Early adopters like Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista, Keells Supermarket and Odel are already seeing the perks.