Best Rate to Send Money to Sri Lanka
Which bank gives the most rupees today
If you are sending money home, the bank that receives it decides how many rupees your family gets. Banks publish a buying rate, which is what they pay for your foreign currency. A higher buying rate means more rupees for the same transfer.
You send
Best rate today
Amana Bank
Your family receives
LKR 330,100
at 330.10 per USD
Choosing the best bank instead of the lowest gets your family LKR 7,380 more on this transfer.
Every bank, compared
Sorted by who gives the most rupees. The difference between the best and worst is real money on a large transfer.
| Bank | Buying rate | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Amana BankBest | 330.10 | LKR 330,100 |
| Seylan Bank | 329.00 | LKR 329,000−LKR 1,100 |
| Hatton National Bank | 328.75 | LKR 328,750−LKR 1,350 |
| People's Bank | 328.74 | LKR 328,736−LKR 1,365 |
| Deutsche Bank (Colombo Branch) | 328.65 | LKR 328,650−LKR 1,450 |
| Commercial Bank of Ceylon | 328.50 | LKR 328,500−LKR 1,600 |
| Sampath Bank | 328.50 | LKR 328,500−LKR 1,600 |
| National Savings Bank | 328.50 | LKR 328,500−LKR 1,600 |
| Pan Asia Banking Corporation | 328.50 | LKR 328,500−LKR 1,600 |
| Bank of Ceylon | 328.10 | LKR 328,100−LKR 2,000 |
| National Development Bank | 328.00 | LKR 328,000−LKR 2,100 |
| Union Bank of Colombo | 328.00 | LKR 328,000−LKR 2,100 |
| Indian Overseas Bank (Colombo Branch) | 328.00 | LKR 328,000−LKR 2,100 |
| DFCC Bank | 327.85 | LKR 327,850−LKR 2,250 |
| MCB Bank (Sri Lanka) | 327.60 | LKR 327,600−LKR 2,500 |
| Bank of China (Colombo Branch) | 327.50 | LKR 327,500−LKR 2,600 |
| Nations Trust Bank | 327.18 | LKR 327,180−LKR 2,920 |
| Cargills Bank | 326.95 | LKR 326,950−LKR 3,150 |
| HSBC Sri Lanka | 326.45 | LKR 326,450−LKR 3,650 |
| Citibank N.A. (Colombo Branch) | 322.72 | LKR 322,720−LKR 7,380 |
These are the rates banks publish for currency conversion. A transfer service or exchange house may offer a different rate, and most charge a separate transfer fee that this does not include. Check the total cost, not just the rate.
Getting more for your transfer
- Compare the rate and the fee together. A good rate with a high fixed fee can be worse than a slightly lower rate with no fee, especially on small amounts.
- Rates move during the day. The rate you are quoted when you send is the one that counts.
- Banks do not publish new rates at weekends. A Saturday transfer usually uses Friday's rate.
Common questions about sending money home
Which bank gives the best rate to send money to Sri Lanka?
It changes from day to day, which is why this page ranks them live rather than naming one. Today the highest buying rate for USD is offered by Amana Bank at 330.10 rupees. Check again on the day you send, because the ranking moves.
What is a buying rate, and why does it matter?
When your money arrives in foreign currency, the bank buys that currency from you and gives rupees in return. The buying rate is how many rupees you get for one unit. A higher buying rate means more rupees for your family, so it is the only rate that matters for a transfer coming in.
Is the rate the only thing that decides what my family gets?
No. Most banks and transfer services also charge a fee, and this page does not include it because banks do not publish it in one place. A good rate with a high fixed fee can work out worse than a slightly lower rate with no fee, especially on smaller amounts. Ask for the total before you send.
Do rates change at weekends?
Banks do not publish new rates on Saturday or Sunday; they keep serving Friday's closing rates. A transfer sent at the weekend is usually converted at Friday's rate or at Monday's, depending on when it is processed.