Trading from Sri Lanka: what is different
Sri Lanka runs on UTC+5:30, so every session starts on the half hour: Tokyo at 05:30, London at 13:30 and New York at 18:30 in winter. The table below converts each session for you.
After the 2022 economic crisis the rupee lost much of its value and the Central Bank tightened controls on foreign exchange. It has since recovered some ground, but rules on moving money abroad remain — check what applies to you before funding an overseas account.
The rupee is not offered as a CFD. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
Forex market hours in Sri Lanka
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Sri Lanka.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 05:30–14:30 | 05:30–14:30 |
| London session | 13:30–22:30 | 12:30–21:30 |
| New York session | 18:30–03:30 | 17:30–02:30 |
| London–New York overlap | 18:30–22:30 | 17:30–21:30 |
| Weekly open | Monday 03:30 | Monday 02:30 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 03:30 | Saturday 02:30 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Sri Lanka
- XAU/USD (gold).
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 13:30 Colombo time in winter.
- USD/JPY and AUD/USD — during the Asian morning.
- US indices — from the US stock-market open at 20:00 Colombo time in winter.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Sri Lankan rupee conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka. Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Sri Lanka.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Sri Lanka allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
What time does forex open in Sri Lanka?
Monday at 03:30 Colombo time from November to March, and 02:30 from April to October.
When is the London–New York overlap in Sri Lanka?
18:30 to 22:30 Colombo time from November to March, and 17:30 to 21:30 from April to October.
What is the minimum deposit from Sri Lanka?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.