Can I pay taxis in Sri Lanka in cash?

I tried to use my card in a cab in Negombo and the driver told me only hotels do that. After that I always made sure to have cash. PickMe was great in Colombo and I linked it to my Wise card, no issues there. But everywhere else I used rupees. If you plan to take a lot of taxis or tuk tuks definitely keep cash ready. It’s also easier for quick negotiations and avoiding awkward moments at drop off.

In my two weeks in Sri Lanka I never once used a card for a taxi. I used PickMe in Colombo and Galle and paid with my Visa in the app but for tuk tuks and regular cabs I always had to pay cash. Some drivers said their machine was broken or they didn’t have one at all. Carrying local cash is the only reliable option especially once you’re out of the big cities.

Don’t expect to use your card for taxis in Sri Lanka. Even in major tourist cities, most drivers expect payment in rupees. A few taxi companies at the airport accepted cards but they charged extra. I mostly used local apps like PickMe or Uber in Colombo and paid in the app. In places like Ella or Sigiriya I paid cash every time. Keep small bills handy since drivers don’t always have change for larger notes.

I was in Colombo and Kandy last month and almost all regular taxis and tuk tuks wanted cash. I asked a few if they had card machines and they just shook their heads. I used PickMe for most of my rides in Colombo and paid through the app using my Mastercard. Outside of Colombo you should definitely carry cash, especially in small towns or beach areas where they might not even know what a card reader is.