DFCC Bank Breaks Language Barriers with Sri Lanka’s First Eight-Language ATMs and CRMs

New service at Bandaranaike International Airport, Hiriketiya, Ella and Arugam Bay makes self-service banking more accessible to international visitors and Sri Lankans

DFCC Bank has introduced Sri Lanka’s first ATMs and Cash Recycler Machines (CRMs) offering transactions in eight languages, enabling international visitors and local customers to withdraw or deposit cash in the language most familiar to them. Now available in the arrivals area of Bandaranaike International Airport and at DFCC Bank locations in Hiriketiya, Ella and Arugam Bay, the service offers English, Sinhala, Tamil, French, Chinese, Russian, Hindi and German, with a wider rollout across the Bank’s all island network.

The facility removes a practical barrier that can make even a simple transaction difficult. Foreign visitors navigating an unfamiliar country can withdraw cash without having to interpret banking instructions in another language, while Sri Lankan customers can use self-service banking in Sinhala, Tamil or English.

At Bandaranaike International Airport, the multilingual facility may be one of a visitor’s first experiences of service in Sri Lanka. Making that interaction clear and familiar extends the country’s welcome into an essential everyday service. By introducing the facility across the island including key tourist destinations such as Hiriketiya, Ella and Arugam Bay, DFCC Bank is carrying that experience into local destinations that attract travelers from around the world.

The initiative comes as tourism continues to play an important role in Sri Lanka’s economy. The country welcomed 2.36 million visitors in 2025, followed by a further 1.15 million during the first six months of 2026, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. As Sri Lanka attracts more visitors, the services they rely on must become easier to access across languages and nationalities.

Users select their preferred language at the beginning of the transaction and follow the on-screen instructions in that language. DFCC Bank ATMs facilitate cash withdrawals, while CRMs enable customers to both deposit and withdraw cash.

Commenting on the initiative, Thimal Perera, Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank, said, “Banking cannot be truly accessible if language remains a barrier. Service beyond borders begins with understanding who is using the service and removing the barriers they face, whether that is an international visitor looking for a familiar language or a Sri Lankan who prefers to bank in English, Sinhala or Tamil. A choice of language on a screen may seem small, but it signals a much bigger shift. The customer no longer has to adapt to the technology. The technology adapts to the customer. That is real progress. It removes difficulty, widens access and gives more people the confidence to transact independently.”

DFCC Bank has expanded the facility progressively across its ATM and CRM network, prioritising tourism destinations, points of arrival and other locations where multilingual access can make the greatest practical difference.