Do they accept old US dollars in Sri Lanka?

Yes, they accept them, and there are no major problems with exchanging old-style dollars. We are talking about banknotes issued from 1996 to 2013 without a security strip; those issued before 1996 may not be accepted anywhere except rare banks. And it's not easy to find dollars from before 1996, as they are too old. Currently, Russian banks mainly sell banknotes from 1996 to 2013, and there are no big problems with them. It is only important that the banknotes are in excellent condition: no tears, wear, stamps, or even creases. So when you receive banknotes at the bank, store them carefully and do not fold them. Most complaints from tourists about not accepting old banknotes are precisely because they try to exchange crumpled and damaged notes, so in fact, the refusal is their own fault.

The exchange rate for old banknotes may differ. For example, at one point, at an exchange office in Bentota, new ones were bought at 298 rupees, old ones at 294, a difference of 1.34%. At Colombo airport, both new and old were accepted at the same rate, but conditions and rates are constantly changing, so you will have to check on the spot and compare rates at different exchange offices and banks.

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