Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Sri Lanka easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
American Express is not popular in Sri Lanka. I managed to use it once at a Hilton in Colombo but that was it. Restaurants, grocery stores, even pharmacies all told me they only accept Visa or Mastercard. My HSBC Mastercard worked without any issues across the country including in Jaffna. Also used BOC and Sampath Bank ATMs with no problems. Amex just isn’t worth the hassle here.
Had issues with Amex all through Sri Lanka. Even the airport duty-free shop refused it and asked for Visa. I used my Wise Mastercard for almost everything and it was smooth at ATMs and hotels. In smaller towns like Sigiriya and Nuwara Eliya, card acceptance in general is patchy so I kept some cash on me as well. Colombo and Negombo were better but still not great for Amex. If you have to choose one, take a Visa or Mastercard.
tried using my Amex at a few places in Galle and Ella. It was accepted at one big hotel and that’s it. Most restaurants and stores gave me the same answer only Visa or Mastercard. Even at supermarkets like Cargills, my Amex was declined. Used my Chase Visa without issues everywhere. For ATMs, Sampath Bank worked the best for me. No crazy fees and always reliable. Definitely go with Visa or Mastercard in Sri Lanka.
Just came back from two weeks in Sri Lanka. My American Express card barely worked anywhere. Even in nicer restaurants in Colombo and Kandy they said sorry only Visa or Mastercard. I ended up using my Visa debit card from Revolut for everything from ATMs to cafes. ATMs like Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank worked fine with Visa. I wouldn’t recommend relying on Amex unless you're staying in international hotels.
All types of cards accepted at Standard Chartered ATM in Sri Lanka.