Is bargaining culture prevalent in Sri Lanka?

It can be said that in Sri Lanka, bargaining is not only common but even a way of life and an interesting cultural experience. If you travel there, it's definitely a "must-have skill" you need to master.

Think of it as a friendly little game rather than an argument, and you'll find the fun in it.

Below, I'll explain it to you situation by situation, so you have a clear idea:

In these places, feel free to bargain:

Tuk-Tuk: This is the place where bargaining is most essential! Before getting in, you absolutely, positively must agree on the price first. Drivers usually quote a higher price, especially for tourists. You can use Google Maps to check the approximate distance beforehand to have a rough idea. Generally, you can start negotiating from 60-70% of their quoted price. If you don't want to haggle, you can try using local ride-hailing apps like PickMe or Uber, where prices are much more transparent.
Street Stalls and Local Markets: Whether they're selling fruits, handicrafts, souvenirs, or spices, any stall without clearly marked prices is open to bargaining. This is their customary way of trading.
Small Shops Selling Sarees, Gems, and Souvenirs: These specialized shops catering to tourists usually have a lot of room for negotiation. The owners are also prepared for you to bargain. Especially when buying gems, the waters are deep, so if you're not an expert, you need to be very cautious while bargaining.

In these places, don't bargain:

Large Supermarkets, Malls: For example, Food City or Keells Super. These places have fixed prices and cash registers, just like shopping in supermarkets at home; you cannot bargain.
Restaurants and Cafes with Menus: Whatever price is written on the menu is the price. Some may add service charges and taxes, which are usually noted on the menu.
Attraction Tickets: Tickets at official ticket counters have fixed prices and cannot be negotiated.
Formal Hotels: Rooms booked through reservation websites or with fixed prices at the front desk have set rates.

Here are a few bargaining tips for you:

Keep smiling and be friendly: Remember, this isn't an argument. Most Sri Lankans are very friendly, and if you chat with them with a smile, they'll be happy to "play" this game with you. An aggressive attitude will only make things awkward.
Know the market price first: Before shopping, you can browse a few places, ask for prices, or ask your hotel owner to get a general idea of how much the item you want to buy is worth. This way, you'll have a baseline when you bargain.
Cutting the price in half might be a bit aggressive, but you can try: For tourist prices, you can try starting at 50-60% of their quoted price, then slowly increase it. The final deal might end up around 70-80% of the original price.
"Pretending" to walk away is a killer move: If you can't agree on a price, you can politely say thank you and then slowly walk away. If your offer is within their acceptable range, there's a high chance they'll call you back.
Don't be too serious: Sometimes, it's not worth getting into a heated argument over a few dozen rupees (which might only be one or two Chinese yuan). Just settle for a reasonable price; after all, it's not easy for them to run a small business. Let them earn a little, and you'll be happy with your purchase – a win-win situation.

In short, view bargaining as a way to understand the local culture and interact with locals, and you'll find the joy in it far outweighs the small amount of money saved. Have a wonderful time in Sri Lanka!