What every invoice in Sri Lanka should contain
The four blocks every invoice needs — check yours against this.
| Field | Why it matters | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Your business name, address, phone | Identifies who's billing | Yes |
| Client name (and phone) | Who owes the money | Yes |
| Invoice number | Unique reference for both sides | Yes |
| Date | When it was issued | Yes |
| Line items — description, qty, LKR price | What exactly is being charged | Yes |
| Subtotal | Total before adjustments | Yes |
| Discount | If you gave one | If applicable |
| VAT 18% / SSCL 2.5% | Statutory taxes | Only if registered |
| Total | The amount to pay | Yes |
| Total in words | Prevents tampering; mandatory on tax invoices | Recommended |
| Bank / payment details | So they can actually pay you | Recommended |
LKR formatting that looks right
- Prefix amounts with Rs. — "Rs. 8,500", not "8500/=".
- Use thousands separators. "Rs. 125,000" reads instantly; "Rs.125000" doesn't.
- Round to whole rupees. Cents on a Sri Lankan cash invoice look wrong, and the gazette requires whole-LKR figures on tax invoices anyway.
If you're VAT-registered, the bar is higher
Since 1 July 2026, Gazette 2481/22 sets mandatory requirements for tax invoices issued by VAT-registered businesses: the title "TAX INVOICE", 9-digit TINs of both supplier and purchaser, a prescribed serial-number format, a clear value-excluding-VAT / VAT / total-including-VAT breakdown, the total written in words, the payment method, and 5-year record retention. Check the exact fields against the gazette with your accountant before issuing tax invoices — getting this wrong is worse than not knowing.
Numbering that won't embarrass you later
Keep it unique and sequential: INV-2026-0001, INV-2026-0002, and so on. Never reuse a number, never skip without a note. When a client calls about "invoice 47", you want to find it in seconds, not dig through a drawer. (VAT-registered businesses: use the gazette's serial format instead of inventing your own.)