There are ATMs at the Colombo airport that accept foreign cards. I can't remember if the card I was using was Plus or Cirrus, but I expect you could find ATMs for both. When I was there in 2007, the first machine I tried was out of money, and my driver took me to another batch of ATMs (also in the airport) to get cash.

Thanks Kathie. We're leaving for Sri Lanka on Feb 9th, and I'm having trouble obtaining Rupees for some emergency cash in hand on arrival. Tried various forex agents here in Melbourne, no one seem to be carrying Sri Lankan Rupees.

Hopefully will have time to take notes for a trip report!

Yes all major cards including Cirrus and Maestro is available at the airport and hundreds of locations around the country.

I was amazed that every little village seemed to have ATMS!

Hi albert,

strangely our driver didn't seem to know where the ATMs at the airport were but he easily found one in a town on our way to our hotel. he did know where to get sim cards for phones though.

you won't be able to get SL rupees outside SL, but you could take some U$. we found that quite a lot of things were priced in $ - entrance fees to the golden triangle sites for example, and wildlife safaris and wished we'd taken more.