Money & Exchange

1. ළඟ ඒ.ටී.එම්. එකක් තියෙනවද?

   La-ṅa ē-ṭī-em e-kak ti-ye-na-va-da?

   Is there an ATM nearby?

   Usage

   Used when you need cash and are looking for a nearby ATM

   Grammar Note

   Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). ATMs are common in tourist areas but rare in rural regions. Carry cash when going off the beaten path.

2. මේකේ ගාණ කීයද?

   Mē-kē gā-ṇa kī-ya-da?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase used in markets or shops to ask the price

   Grammar Note

   "Gāṇa" is the colloquial word for price. Formal/written Sinhala uses "mila". "Da" makes it a question.

3. ටිකක් අඩු කරන්න පුළුවන්ද?

   Ti-kak a-du ka-ran-na pu-lu-wan-da?

   Can you reduce the price a little?

   Usage

   Used at markets or souvenir shops to negotiate a lower price

   Grammar Note

   "Tikak" — the "-k" is the indefinite suffix. Bargaining is common in markets. Fixed-price shops are clearly marked.

4. කාඩ් ගන්නවාද?

   Kāḍ gan-na-wā-da?

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Used at shops or restaurants to check if credit card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Gannawa" means "to take/accept". Adding "da" = question. Cash only is common outside cities — always carry rupees.

5. ඉතිරිය ඔබ ළඟ තියාගන්නකො

   I-thi-ri-ya o-ba la-ṅa thi-yā-gan-na-ko

   Keep the change (as a tip)

   Usage

   Used at restaurants or in tuk-tuks to leave small change as a tip

   Grammar Note

   "-ko" is a soft colloquial imperative suffix. Tipping is growing in Sri Lanka but not obligatory. 10% is appreciated.

6. බිල බෙදාගෙන ගෙවන්න පුළුවන්ද?

   Bi-la be-dā-ge-na ge-wan-na pu-lu-wan-da?

   Can we split the bill?

   Usage

   Used after a group meal to ask if the bill can be split

   Grammar Note

   "bedāgena" = dividing up (and); "gewanna puluwanda" = can we pay? Literally "can we pay by splitting the bill?". Alternative: "bila bedā gamu" (let's split the bill).

7. ඩොලර් රුපියල්වලට හුවමාරු කරන්න පුළුවන්ද?

   Do-lar ru-pi-yal-wa-la-ta hu-va-mā-ru ka-ran-na pu-lu-wan-da?

   Can I exchange dollars for rupees?

   Usage

   Used at money exchange booths or hotels to exchange foreign currency to Sri Lankan rupees

   Grammar Note

   Exchange at airports, banks, or licensed exchange offices. Street money changers are risky and often illegal.

8. රිසිට්පත ගෙනෙන්නකො

   Ri-sīt-pa-tha ge-nen-na-ko

   Please give me the receipt

   Usage

   Used after a purchase to request a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "-ko" is a soft imperative suffix. "Riseet" borrowed from English "receipt". Always keep receipts for insurance claims.

9. සේවා ගාස්තුව ඇතුළු ද?

   Sē-wā gās-thu-wa æ-thu-lu da?

   Is the service charge included?

   Usage

   Used at restaurants or hotels to check if a service charge is included in the bill

   Grammar Note

   Many Sri Lankan restaurants add a 10% service charge plus government taxes (SVT) to the bill automatically.

10. ගෙවන්න ගියා

    Ge-wan-na gi-yā

    I went to pay

    Usage

    Informal phrase to tell a companion you went to pay the bill

    Grammar Note

    "Gewanna" is the infinitive "to pay", expressing purpose. "Giyā" is the colloquial past tense of "yanawa" (to go). The subject is omitted.

11. තැන්පතුව

    Thanpathuwa

    Deposit

    Usage

    A deposit held by a hotel or rental, returned at checkout

12. ආපසු ගෙවීම

    Aapasu gewima

    Refund

    Usage

    Word for getting money returned

13. කල්තියා ගෙවීම

    Kaltiyaa gewima

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Word for money paid in advance

14. අමතර ගාස්තුව

    Amathara gaasthuwa

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Word for a charge added on afterward

15. සේවා ගාස්තුව

    Sewa gaasthuwa

    Service fee

    Usage

    Word for a fee charged for a procedure or service

16. මුදලින්

    mudalin

    In cash

    Usage

    States you will pay cash; tuk-tuks and street stalls are cash-only in practice

17. කාඩ් එකෙන්

    kāḍ eken

    By card

    Usage

    States you will pay by card; small shops sometimes add a surcharge

18. එකට ගෙවනවා

    ekaṭa gevanavā

    Paying all together

    Usage

    Says you want one bill for everyone after eating as a group

19. ගාණ ගොඩක් වැඩියි

    gāṇa goḍak væḍiyi

    That is far too expensive

    Usage

    A firm reply when the asking price is plainly inflated — for tuk-tuk fares and souvenir haggling

20. ඉතුරු සල්ලි

    ithuru salli

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    For asking for your change; small notes and coins are often short in Sri Lanka, so you frequently have to ask outright

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