Is it necessary to carry small change while traveling in Sri Lanka?

Yes, absolutely! It's very necessary.

This is arguably one of the most useful tips for my trip to Sri Lanka. It might seem like a small thing, but it can genuinely save you a lot of trouble.

Let me give you a few practical scenarios you might encounter, and you'll understand:

Taking a Tuk-tuk: This is the most common mode of transport in Sri Lanka. A short ride might only cost two or three hundred rupees. If you pull out a 5000 rupee note (approximately 120 RMB), the driver will most likely shrug and tell you they don't have change. This can be very awkward; they might "conveniently" keep the change, or ask you to go to a nearby small shop to break the note, which wastes a lot of time.
Tipping: Tipping is quite common in Sri Lanka. For example, hotel porters who help with luggage, restaurant staff, hired car drivers, etc. A tip of 100 or 200 rupees is usually appropriate. You can't just hand over a 1000 rupee note because you don't have smaller change, can you? That would be too "generous." Having small denominations on hand makes tipping very convenient and appropriate.
Street stalls and small shops: Want to buy a king coconut to drink (highly recommended!) or some local snacks and souvenirs from a small stall? These places usually only accept cash, and being small businesses, they won't be able to break a large note for you.
Attraction tickets and miscellaneous fees: Some temples require you to store your shoes, for which they might charge twenty or thirty rupees. Public toilets in some places might also charge a fee. These are all situations where you'll need coins or small denomination notes.

So, how do you get small change?

Request it when exchanging money: When exchanging money at the airport or a local bank, directly tell the staff that you need some small notes, such as 100s and 500s. Don't exchange everything into 5000s.
Break notes at a supermarket: This is the most effective method. Find a larger chain supermarket, like Food City or Keells, go in and buy a bottle of water or a pack of biscuits, pay with a large note, and you'll get a lot of small change back. This is also the most natural and convenient way.
At the hotel reception: You can also ask the reception at your hotel if they can help you break large notes into smaller change.

In summary, always having some 100 and 500 rupee notes, along with even smaller denominations, in your pocket will make your trip to Sri Lanka much smoother, avoiding many unnecessary awkward situations and troubles. Have a great trip!