For most Sri Lankan small businesses, the easiest way to take card payments online is a local aggregator such as PayHere, which charges a percentage per payment and settles into a Sri Lankan bank account. Stripe does not support Sri Lankan businesses, and PayPal only began allowing payments to be received in Sri Lanka in May 2026.
The main options
Local payment aggregators
Aggregators let you accept Visa, Mastercard and local wallets without a separate merchant agreement with each bank. PayHere is the best known. Its published plans, updated in September 2026, are (PayHere support):
| Plan | Fee per payment | Monthly fee | Per-payment limit | Monthly limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITE | 3.3% | None | Rs. 50,000 | Rs. 200,000 |
| PLUS | 2.99% | Rs. 3,990 | Rs. 250,000 | Rs. 3,000,000 |
| PREMIUM | 2.69% | Rs. 9,990 | Rs. 1,000,000 | No limit |
The LITE plan suits a business just starting, because there is no monthly fee. Once you sell more than a few hundred thousand rupees a month, a paid plan with a lower percentage usually costs less overall.
Bank payment gateways
Larger banks offer their own internet payment gateways. They can have lower rates for high volumes but usually need more paperwork, a registered company and sometimes a security deposit. They make sense for established businesses with steady online sales.
Buy now, pay later
Instalment services let customers split a purchase into parts while you are paid up front, minus a fee. They can raise order values for fashion, electronics and furniture.
Stripe
Stripe does not list Sri Lanka among its supported countries (OneSafe). Some founders set up an overseas company to use it, which brings extra tax and legal work. For a local business, a Sri Lankan gateway is simpler.
PayPal
PayPal receiving and withdrawals to local partner banks launched on 15 May 2026, according to local reports (Ada Derana Biz, Gazette.lk). It is useful for freelancers and for selling to overseas customers, but most local shoppers still prefer cards, bank transfer or cash on delivery.
How to choose
- Who are your customers? Local buyers want cards, wallets and cash on delivery. Overseas buyers expect cards and sometimes PayPal.
- Your monthly volume: compare the total cost, not just the percentage. At low volume a plan without a monthly fee wins.
- Limits: if you sell high-value items, check the per-payment limit. A tour package or a laptop can exceed a starter plan's limit.
- Settlement: ask how quickly money reaches your account.
- Integration: make sure the gateway works with your website platform. PayHere has plugins for WooCommerce and a Shopify app.
What you need to apply
Typically: your business registration, NIC or director details, a business bank account, and a live website with your products or services, prices, contact details, refund policy, terms and privacy policy. Gateways check your website before approving you, so have these pages ready.
Bank transfer still matters
Many Sri Lankan customers are happy to pay by bank transfer and send a slip. It costs nothing per payment, but checking slips by hand is slow. A system that lets customers upload slips and sends receipts automatically saves hours each week.
Worked example: which PayHere plan is cheaper?
Using the published fees, compare monthly cost at different sales levels:
| Monthly card sales (LKR) | LITE (3.3%, no monthly fee) | PLUS (2.99% + Rs. 3,990) |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 | 3,300 | 6,980 |
| 150,000 | 4,950 | 8,475 |
| 200,000 | 6,600 | 9,970 |
| 1,000,000 | Over the LITE limit | 33,890 |
LITE is cheaper at low volume, but its Rs. 200,000 monthly limit means a growing business will move up. Always compare your real sales, and remember the per-payment limit if you sell expensive items.
What a good checkout looks like
- Total price including delivery shown before payment
- Card, bank transfer and, where it suits, cash on delivery
- A clear refund and cancellation policy linked at checkout
- An automatic confirmation by email or WhatsApp after payment
- A receipt the customer can download
How Halcent can help
Halcent builds websites and booking systems with payments built in: card payments through a local gateway, bank slip upload with automatic receipts, and order or booking alerts on WhatsApp. We have built online payments for an education platform with card and bank transfer (see our work). Tell us what you sell and we will recommend a setup in a free AI Snapshot.
Frequently asked questions
Which payment gateway is best in Sri Lanka?
For small businesses, a local aggregator such as PayHere is usually the quickest to set up. Larger businesses with high volumes can negotiate lower rates with a bank gateway.
Is Stripe available in Sri Lanka?
No. Stripe does not support businesses based in Sri Lanka. Local gateways are the usual alternative.
Can I accept payments without a registered business?
Some gateways have plans for individuals, but most require business registration and a business bank account. Check the requirements before you build your checkout.