Sri Lanka Tech Scene
Writing on Sri Lanka's software industry, Bitcoin education, and the practical context of working with international clients.
7 articles
How CeyPay Actually Works: Crypto Payments in Sri Lanka
CeyPay is marketed as accepting 50+ cryptocurrencies. Its own API reference tells a narrower story: the Payments endpoint takes USDT or LKR, auto-converts an LKR amount to USDT at creation, and accepts one of two providers, BYBIT or BINANCE. The response field says currency is always USDT for processing. The create-payment call returns a bybit:// deep link and a checkout page hosted at checkout.bybit.com, so the crypto leg is an internal book transfer inside an exchange rather than an on-chain payment. That is not a trick. It follows from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's position that resident-to-resident transactions inside the country settle in rupees, which CeyPay's own legal log states in those words. This article traces one payment from exchange balance to CEFTS bank credit, and works the arithmetic in the docs' fee examples, which land at 1.50% and 3.50% against a headline of up to 2%. It covers the FX spread nobody quantifies, the settlement pull with its daily cap, the refund path that exists only on Binance Pay, and the regulation behind the structure.
Accepting Crypto Payments in Sri Lanka: Merchant Guide
Sri Lanka did not legalise crypto payments in 2026. It legalised reporting on them. Parliament passed three AML amendment acts on 10 July 2026, the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Act No. 17 of 2026 was gazetted on 7 August 2026, and Cabinet named the Securities and Exchange Commission as regulator for virtual assets on 28 July 2026 — but no licensing rule exists, the SEC's own 2026 media releases carry nothing on virtual assets, and no primary source contradicts the Central Bank position that crypto is not legal tender and cannot be used for transactions inside the country. This guide is the decision, not the headline. It prices your four realistic options, including the free domestic QR rail that is the strongest competitor and the Central Bank data showing 473,214 registered LankaQR merchants producing 257,520 transactions in a quarter. It covers onboarding, the limits that bite, a clause checklist for any provider contract, the 180-day rule binding developers who take foreign payment, and who should not do this at all.
Cryptocurrency Regulation in Sri Lanka: What You Need to Know in 2026
A factual overview of cryptocurrency regulation in Sri Lanka as of 2026 — covering the Central Bank's position, Bitcoin legality, tax implications, P2P markets, international exchange access, and how the landscape compares to UK regulation. Written by a Bitcoin educator who operates in both countries.
Bitcoin Education in Sri Lanka: The Challenges and Why I Keep Going
A deeply personal account of building uvin.lk — Sri Lanka's largest free Bitcoin education platform with 10,000+ learners. The misinformation, scam perception, regulatory gray areas, and the Sinhala content gap that make crypto education in Sri Lanka one of the hardest things I've ever done. And why I refuse to stop.
Hiring a Developer from Sri Lanka: What International Companies Should Know
A practical guide for CTOs and hiring managers considering Sri Lankan developers — covering skill levels, pricing, time zones, payment methods, legal considerations, and how to avoid common mistakes. Written by a developer who works both sides of this equation.
Token 2049 Asia: What I Learned Representing Sri Lanka in Singapore
A first-person account of attending Token 2049 Asia in Singapore — the world's largest crypto conference — as a Web3 developer from Sri Lanka. What I saw, who I met, what surprised me, and what it means for the future of crypto in South Asia.
The Sri Lanka Tech Scene in 2026: What You Need to Know
An insider perspective on Sri Lanka's tech industry in 2026 — from the growing developer talent pool and startup ecosystem to blockchain adoption, infrastructure challenges, and opportunities for international companies looking to build teams in South Asia.