Is Apple Pay commonly used in Sri Lanka?

Apple Pay and Google Pay are rarely accepted in Sri Lanka because local payment gateways and merchant terminals do not currently support these NFC-based digital wallets. So you have to rely completely on physical credit cards or cash for all purchases around the island. Instead, prepare as follows:

• Bring a physical Visa or Mastercard, since they are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, and solid restaurants.
• Try to keep smaller Rupee notes available for tuk-tuks, rural shops, and small gratuities.
• Withdraw your local currency only from airport ATMs or authorised bank machines; that way it stays safer.