LKR amounts in words: examples
Monthly rent in Colombo
LKR 85,000.00
Eighty Five Thousand Rupees Only
Open this amount in the converter →A utility or school payment with cents
LKR 12,450.50
Twelve Thousand Four Hundred Fifty Rupees And Fifty Cents Only
Open this amount in the converter →A vehicle deposit (note: millions, not lakhs)
LKR 1,500,000.00
One Million Five Hundred Thousand Rupees Only
Open this amount in the converter →Most Sri Lankan cheque leaves print “Rupees” at the start of the words line, so you can begin straight with the number, for example “Eighty Five Thousand Only”. Many people also write cents as “and Cents Fifty Only”. Both forms state the same amount; what matters is that the words match the figures. Large amounts in Sri Lanka are normally written in millions, which is how the converter writes LKR.
Step by step: filling in a Sri Lankan cheque
Use dark, permanent ink. LankaPay asks that printed cheques use letters that last at least 12 years, which gives you an idea of how long the image may need to stay readable.
- Date: write the full date in the boxes provided (day, month, year). Do not post-date a cheque you are not sure will be funded on that day.
- Pay: write the payee’s full name exactly as it appears on their bank account.
- Or bearer: if you want only the named person to be paid, strike out the words “or bearer”. Leaving them in means whoever holds the cheque can present it.
- Rupees (words): start at the far left, write the amount in words and finish with “Only”. Draw a line through any space left over.
- Rs. box (figures): write the amount right next to the symbol with two decimals, for example 85,000.00, and close it off with “/=” or a line.
- Signature: sign as you did on the bank’s specimen card. Joint or company accounts may need more than one signature.
Crossing a cheque and “A/C Payee Only”
LankaPay’s advice for making a cheque payable only to the named person is three steps: write the full name on the “Pay” line, cross out “Bearer”, and draw two parallel lines across the top-left corner. Writing “A/C Payee Only” between those lines tells the collecting bank to credit only the payee’s own account, which is what most businesses and landlords expect.
A crossed cheque cannot be cashed over the counter; it has to go into a bank account. That is the point: a lost crossed cheque is much harder for someone else to use.
Things that get Sri Lankan cheques returned
Because CITS works from images, LankaPay asks you not to fold or crumple the cheque, not to write over the magnetic (MICR) numbers along the bottom, and not to circle or underline anything on the face. It also advises against issuing a cheque with alterations at all. If you make a mistake, cancel the leaf and write a new one.
A cheque that is returned unpaid comes back with a Cheque Return Notification (CRN). Part C of the CRN shows the reason and whether the cheque can be presented again. A CRN can be re-presented within six months of the original cheque date; if it says the cheque cannot be re-presented, ask the drawer for a new cheque.
Bounced cheques: the 2025 amendment
The Bills of Exchange (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2025 added sections 82A to 82F to the Bills of Exchange Ordinance. Under it, a drawer commits an offence if a cheque given for a debt is returned for insufficient funds, a closed account or a stop-payment without a legitimate reason, provided the cheque was presented within six months, the payee sent a written demand within 90 days, and the drawer did not pay within 90 days of that demand.
On conviction, the penalty can be a fine equal to the cheque amount, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. This is a summary of a law firm’s reading of the Act; if you are dealing with a returned cheque, get advice on your own case.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a cheque valid in Sri Lanka?
LankaPay says cheques are typically valid for six months from the date written on them. After that the bank can refuse to pay, and you will need a fresh cheque from the drawer.
Can I write a Sri Lankan cheque in Sinhala or Tamil?
Yes. LankaPay states that cheques written in Sinhala, Tamil or English are valid. Use one language consistently for the words line.
Should I write lakhs or millions on an LKR cheque?
Either states the same amount, but written amounts in Sri Lankan banking are normally expressed in thousands and millions, for example “One Million Five Hundred Thousand Only” for Rs. 1,500,000.00. That is the form the converter produces for LKR.
How long does a cheque take to clear in Sri Lanka?
Once the cheque reaches LankaPay, it typically clears within one business day. Your bank’s deposit cut-off time decides when that clock starts.
Sources
Rules change, and banks can apply stricter practices than the law requires. Check with your bank before relying on a detail for a large or time-sensitive payment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.