The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued a strong warning to merchants, reminding them that adding extra fees—typically between 2.5% to 3%—for payments made via credit or debit cards is not allowed under any circumstances.
A CBSL official emphasized that if a merchant charges more than the advertised price for card transactions, customers should request a receipt and report the incident to their card-issuing bank. This statement was made in response to concerns raised during the recent media briefing following the Monetary Policy Review, where several complaints had surfaced about hidden fees being added to card-based purchases.
These surcharges, found in some retail stores and service providers, are viewed as unfair penalties on customers who opt for cashless payment options.
Highlighting the country’s growing adoption of digital transactions, the CBSL revealed that Sri Lanka processes around 1.6 million digital payments daily. Out of these, approximately 800,000 are completed using debit and credit cards, while 600,000 occur through online platforms.
The CBSL’s reminder is part of a broader effort to uphold consumer protection and reinforce confidence in digital payment systems. With government initiatives and financial institutions pushing for a cashless economy, ensuring transparency and fairness in electronic transactions remains a top priority.
