From Australia to the UK, many Sri Lankan-origin entrepreneurs are building successful global businesses while setting up back-office or delivery teams in Sri Lanka for operational and cost advantages. Whether you run a tech firm, an accounting practice, or a creative services agency, managing payroll for your Colombo-based team requires more than just spreadsheets or overseas HR software. In this article, we explore why a Sri Lanka-localised payroll solution is critical for compliance, transparency, and employee satisfaction.
How Founders Are Connecting Their Businesses Back to Sri Lanka
Over the past decade, a growing number of Sri Lankan-born founders and professionals living overseas, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Canada, have launched successful businesses abroad. Many of these companies, run by Sri Lankan-origin directors, have strategically set up local delivery teams in Sri Lanka, tapping into trusted talent networks and a cost-effective labour market.
Take Planlogic, an Australia-based para-planning service provider co-founded by Sri Lankans, with a delivery team operating out of Colombo. Part of what has enabled them to scale their cross-border operations, especially HR and payroll, is opting for local systems built for Sri Lankan labour laws.
Read the Planlogic Case Study here
For similar companies, whether you’re a Melbourne-based wealth-tech startup, a London creative agency, or a Toronto-based outsourcing firm, investing in a Sri Lanka-compliant payroll system can provide a strong operational foundation to scale.
Local Payroll Compliance Without the Headaches
Even if your finance team is based overseas, you still need to meet Sri Lanka’s payroll compliance rules. These include:
- EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) & ETF (Employees’ Trust Fund) contributions
- APIT (Advanced Personal Income Tax)
- Generating payslips in Sri Lankan formats
- Submitting statutory reports like T10 and employee tax certificates
Most international accounting tools or HR platforms aren’t built to handle these local nuances, which means founders often rely on manual calculations, outdated Excel files, or expensive consultants.
A local payroll platform like Humanised ensures 100% compliance, calculating all statutory components automatically and generating ready-to-submit reports each month.
Aligning Global & Local Operations: Real-Time Visibility & Control
Most globally managed teams want HQ visibility, but also need smooth local operations. Using an Excel-based system or a foreign HR tool often creates a gap between what head office sees and what’s happening on the ground in Sri Lanka.
A modern Sri Lankan payroll platform will offer:
- Cloud-based dashboards accessible by both global and local teams
- Automated workflows for leave approvals, salary processing, and document generation
- Secure employee self-service portals for payslips and leave requests (some offer employee apps as well)
- Multi-user roles (e.g., local HR, finance head, global operations manager)
This keeps operations compliant locally, while maintaining visibility and accountability globally.
No More Juggling Between Systems or Consultants
Many global companies managing Sri Lankan teams rely on external payroll consultants or cobbled-together spreadsheets, especially in the early stages.
But as teams grow, this becomes inefficient and risky. With a proper payroll solution:
- HR no longer needs to request reports manually
- Finance can handle monthly runs in minutes, not hours
- Founders/COOs retain oversight without getting into unnecessary details
- Statutory filings are always ready on time
For scaling firms, from 5-person support teams to 100+ staff BPO operations, this shift is not just helpful. It’s necessary.
Better Experience for Your Local Team
Payroll isn’t just about compliance, it’s part of the employee experience. Local Sri Lankan teams expect clear payslips, predictable payment timelines, and answers to tax-related questions.
A localised system:
- Auto-generates payslips and tax breakdowns
- Lets staff access records digitally
- Supports salary transfers to multiple local banks
- Handles shift-based and part-time setups (e.g. for support staff)
By removing friction, you increase trust and retention, particularly for high-value Sri Lankan talent who often feel disconnected from offshore HQs.
Ready to Simplify Sri Lankan Payroll?
Companies like Planlogic are already seeing the impact of smart, compliant payroll operations across their Sri Lanka-based teams.
Whether you’re just setting up or scaling a local operation, Humanised can help you:
- Set up APIT/EPF/ETF compliance in minutes
- Run payroll with zero errors
- Empower your local staff with digital payslips and self-service access
- Stay in control, whether you’re in Sydney, Dubai, or London
Speak with us today to understand how Humanised Payroll can transform your Sri Lankan payroll and employee operation.
FAQs – For Global Companies with Teams in Sri Lanka
1. Can we run payroll from overseas using Humanised?
Yes. Humanised is cloud-based, so your global operations team can process payroll from anywhere while your local HR or admin team can handle inputs and approvals on the ground.
2. How do we ensure compliance with Sri Lankan payroll regulations?
Humanised is built specifically for Sri Lanka: it auto-calculates EPF/ETF, APIT, and provides local statutory reports such as T10s, employee tax statements, and more.
3. What if we already use a global HR platform like BambooHR or Deel?
You can continue using them for core HR while syncing local payroll and compliance via Humanised. Some firms choose Humanised for payroll only while retaining global HRIS platforms.
4. Does the system support remote, hybrid, and shift-based teams?
Absolutely. Humanised supports all working models common in Sri Lanka including shift rosters, remote teams, and hybrid setups, with integrated time and attendance tracking.
5. Can we integrate with local banks for salary payments?
Yes. Humanised generates compatible bank files for salary disbursements and supports payment integrations with Sri Lankan banks.
