Home SWIFT/BIC code Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code LK in positions 5-6
- Example
- BCEYLKLX
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + LK (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office in Colombo — nearly every major bank shares LX as the location code
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read LK, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}LK[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Sri Lankan SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Sri Lanka. Every Sri Lankan BIC has LK fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks all anchor their SWIFT head office in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial and financial hub.
Major Sri Lankan bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Ceylon | BCEYLKLX | Colombo |
| Commercial Bank of Ceylon | CCEYLKLX | Colombo |
| Hatton National Bank | HBLILKLX | Colombo |
| Sampath Bank | BSAMLKLX | Colombo |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read LK, and the remaining characters follow the letter-or-digit pattern for the location and branch segments — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Sri Lankan BIC pattern, not that BCEY, CCEY, HBLI, or BSAM still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format validation only. Sri Lanka does not issue IBANs, so a cross-border transfer pairs the BIC with the recipient’s domestic account number.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Sri Lankan bank?
A Sri Lankan BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, LK fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BCEYLKLX for Bank of Ceylon.
Why do most Sri Lankan BICs end in LX?
LX is the SWIFT location code for Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial capital and financial centre — nearly every major bank registers its head office there, even though Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital.
Does an 8-character code work for a Sri Lankan bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on wire instructions.