What is a "pawn" of gold in Sri Lanka?

A pawn, also called a sovereign, is the traditional Sri Lankan gold weight. One pawn equals 8 grams. Jewellers, pawn shops and most gold price boards quote the price "per pawn".

What does 916 or 22K mean on gold jewellery?

916 (also written 22K or 22 karat) means the item is 91.6% pure gold, the standard for Sri Lankan jewellery, hallmarked under the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority scheme. 24K is pure gold; 21K is 87.5%; 18K is 75%.

How is the gold price set in Sri Lanka?

Local prices follow the international spot price converted at the USD/LKR exchange rate, published daily by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Shops then add their own margin and making charges, so the price you pay is higher than the indicative rate.

Is the value shown here what a jeweller will pay me?

No. This is an indicative value only. When you sell or pawn gold, the buyer deducts for stones, solder, wear and their margin, so you typically receive below the metal value. Get a quote from the shop before deciding.

How does gold pawning work in Sri Lanka?

A bank or pawn broker lends you a percentage (loan-to-value) of your gold's value and charges monthly interest; you redeem the gold by repaying the advance plus interest within the agreed period. Since 25 May 2026, CBSL caps licensed banks and finance companies at 70% of the gold's value. Terms vary by provider, so always compare.

Where does the rate on this page come from?

It auto-fills from CalcLK's daily indicative gold rate: the international XAU/USD spot price converted at the USD/LKR exchange rate — the same method the Central Bank documents. You can edit it any time to match a jeweller's quote.

Who offers the best gold price, and where should I buy?

We do not rank or recommend sellers — CalcLK is independent of jewellers and banks. The rate shown here is the metal value, which is the floor: shops add making charges, wastage allowances and their margin on top. To find the best deal, compare making charges and the per-gram price across two or three jewellers for the same item.

Gold Calculator Sri Lanka — Worth, Pawn…

What is your gold worth?

Gold weight

1 pawn (sovereign) = 8 grams (the unit Sri Lankan jewellers use).

Karat (purity)

Today's rate per 22K pawn (Rs.)

Rs. 312,832 per pawn — CBSL daily rate, 2026-10-27

Source: CBSL daily gold rates

Use my own rate

Your rate per pawn (Rs.)

Optional — clear the box to use the live CBSL rate again.

Indicative gold value

Rs. 312,832

22K price per gram

Rs. 39,104

Pure gold content (91.6%)

7.3 g

8 g of 22K gold is worth about Rs. 312,832 (metal only).

What would a shop pay me?

Shop deduction %

Making charge %

A shop paying metal value minus those deductions would pay about Rs. 312,832.

Share:

Discuss gold & pawning →

Today's gold rate (indicative)

Karat	per gram	per pawn
24K	Rs. 42,690	Rs. 341,520
22K	Rs. 39,104	Rs. 312,832
21K	Rs. 37,354	Rs. 298,830
18K	Rs. 32,018	Rs. 256,140
14K	Rs. 24,974	Rs. 199,789

Effective 2026-10-27 · international spot × USD/LKR (the CBSL method). Metal value only — shops add premiums.

Same weight (8 g) at every karat

24K	Rs. 341,520
22K	Rs. 312,832
21K	Rs. 298,830
18K	Rs. 256,140
14K	Rs. 199,789

Why shop prices differ

This rate = metal value.The worth of the gold itself — the floor every price starts from.
Shops add on top.Making charges, wastage and their margin — so shop prices always run higher.
Compare before you buy.Ask two or three shops for the per-gram price and the making charge.

Loan vs gold growth

Rs. 312,832for 8 g of 22K gold — pawn or lend against it, repay monthly, and the gold keeps appreciating.

(replaces your gold)

My gold is worth (Rs.)

Rs.

Loan as % of gold value

%

Loan amount (LKR)

Rs. 218,982

Works out from the % above — one source of truth.

Loan interest (% per year)

%

Loan period (years)

yrs

Gold price rise per year (your guess)

%

Add fees (optional)

Pawn / loan fees (Rs.)

Rs.

Valuation fee (Rs.)

Rs.

Loss when selling (making charges) %

%

Interest is on the remaining balance, charged monthly. Pawn lenders may charge differently — check their terms.

What will you do with the loan money?

You pay 18% per year. Gold grows 8% per year.

Every month you pay Rs. 5,561 (EMI)

You pay Rs. 114,660 to use Rs. 218,982 for 5 years.

−Rs. 114,660 vs just keeping your gold

Gold gain covers the interest from month 46.

Gold can fall 30% before it is worth less than the loan.

Assumes you pay the monthly instalments from your pocket, and sell the gold at market value — no making-charge loss unless you fill the fee boxes.

Show full numbers

The loan

Loan amount: Rs. 218,982
Monthly instalment (EMI): Rs. 5,561
Interest: Rs. 114,660
Total repayment: Rs. 333,642
Months to pay: 60
First → last payment: 27 Oct 2026 → 27 Oct 2031

Your gold

Initial gold value: Rs. 312,832
Growth at 8% p.a.: +Rs. 146,821
Expected gold value in 5 years: Rs. 459,653

Cost of the loan (interest + fees)Rs. 114,660

Move through the loanMonth 0

You still owe

Rs. 218,982

Gold worth

Rs. 312,832

Interest paid

Rs. 0

Net (gold − debt)

Rs. 93,850

What you owe vs what you hold

Growth
Initial gold
Interest
Loan principal

Interest paid vs gold gain over time

Gold gain so far
Interest paid so far
Loan balance

Hover for month-by-month values. The dot marks break-even — where the gold gain catches the interest paid.

If gold moves differently…

Examples, not predictions.

Gold falls -5%/yr

Rs. 242,063

Net after repaying: −Rs. 185,429

−Rs. 114,660 vs keeping your gold

If gold falls, the loan costs more than the extra gold earns.

Your guess 8%/yr

Rs. 459,653

Net after repaying: +Rs. 32,161

−Rs. 114,660 vs keeping your gold

At your guessed rate, borrowing adds this much on top of just holding.

Gold rises 15%/yr

Rs. 629,217

Net after repaying: +Rs. 201,725

−Rs. 114,660 vs keeping your gold

If gold rises fast, the extra gold can out-earn the loan cost.

Three ways to play it

Keep the gold (no loan)

Rs. 459,653

No loan, no cost — the gold just grows.

Pawn & spend the money

Rs. 459,653

You get Rs. 218,982 to spend; the loan costs Rs. 114,660.

Pawn & buy more gold

Rs. 781,410

Rs. 218,982 more gold (+Rs. 102,775 growth) for Rs. 114,660 cost.

Scenario projection, not a forecast or advice — gold prices can fall, loan terms vary by lender, and appreciation is an assumption you set.

Estimate only, not financial advice.

Pawning estimate

Rs. 312,832for 8 g of 22K gold from the calculator above

Loan-to-value (%)

%

Licensed lenders advance up to 70% of the value — the legal cap.

Annual interest (% p.a.)

%

Loan period (months)

mo

You get Rs. 218,982 today and pay Rs. 2,737 interest every month until you redeem.

Interest-only — you pay 15% of the advance each month and repay the advance itself at the end. Not an EMI.

Cash advance (estimate)

Rs. 218,982

Interest per month

Rs. 2,737

Total to redeem

Rs. 235,406

How it plays out

Day 0You receive Rs. 218,982
MonthlyYou pay Rs. 2,737 interest
Month 6Pay Rs. 218,982 back and take your gold home

Interest = 15% per year of your advance. Period: 0.5 years.

If you miss the deadline

Ask the lender about the grace period and what happens to the gold if you do not redeem or renew in time — rules differ by lender and product.

Cash you receive todayRs. 218,982

Interest per monthRs. 2,737

Total interest (6 mo / 0.5 yr)Rs. 16,424

Interest as a share of the advance7.5%

Total to redeemRs. 235,406

Estimate only, not a loan offer. Licensed banks and finance companies cannot advance more than 70% of the gold's value under CBSL rules — providers set the actual rate and terms.

Published bank pawning rates

The annual interest each bank publishes for gold loans and pawning. The last column shows what your advance would cost per month at that rate.

Interest (% p.a.)	Interest / month on your advance	Total interest (6 mo)	Checked on
13.00%cheapest	Rs. 2,372	Rs. 14,234	2026-10-27
13.50%	Rs. 2,464	Rs. 14,781	2026-10-27
14.50%	Rs. 2,646	Rs. 15,876	2026-10-27
14.75%	Rs. 2,692	Rs. 16,150	2026-10-27
15.00%	Rs. 2,737	Rs. 16,424	2026-10-27
15.00%	Rs. 2,737	Rs. 16,424	2026-10-27
16.50%	Rs. 3,011	Rs. 18,066	2026-10-27

Published rate sheets checked October 2026 — rates change often and vary by product and branch. Confirm before you decide.

Karat price reference

At your rate of Rs. 312,832 per 22K pawn:

Karat	Purity	per gram	per pawn
24K	100.0%	Rs. 42,690	Rs. 341,520
22K	91.6%	Rs. 39,104	Rs. 312,832
21K	87.5%	Rs. 37,354	Rs. 298,830
18K	75.0%	Rs. 32,017	Rs. 256,140
14K	58.5%	Rs. 24,974	Rs. 199,789

A pawn, also called a sovereign, is 8 grams. Gold prices in Sri Lanka are usually quoted per pawn of 22K (916) gold.

916 means 91.6% pure gold — the Sri Lankan jewellery standard, hallmarked under the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority scheme.

Indicative metal values only. Jeweller prices include making charges and margins; resale offers deduct for stones, solder and wear.

Get Gold Rate Updates

Gold prices move daily — get notified of major market changes

Example: value of 1 pawn of 22K gold

Sample Inputs

Weight1 pawn (8 g)

Karat22K (916)

Rate per 22K pawnRs. 300,000

Weight in pawns8 g ÷ 8 g1 pawn

22K price per gramRs. 300,000 ÷ 8 gRs. 37,500 /g

Value at 22K8 g × Rs. 37,500Rs. 300,000

Indicative gold valueRs. 300,000

What This Calculator Does

This calculator works out what your gold is worth in Sri Lankan rupees by grams or pawns at any karat, and estimates a pawning advance, monthly interest and total to redeem.

Value gold in grams or pawns (1 pawn = 8 g)
Supports 24K, 22K (916), 21K, 18K and 14K
Rate entered per 22K pawn (the LK convention)
Pawning / gold-loan estimate: advance, interest, redemption total
Compare published bank gold-loan rates side by side
Works for jewellery, coins and biscuits

Inputs and Assumptions

WeightGold weight in grams or pawns (e.g., 1 pawn)

KaratPurity — 22K is the LK standard (e.g., 22K / 916)

Rate per pawnToday's 22K rate per pawn in LKR (e.g., Rs. 300,000)

Assumptions

- Rate is the indicative metal value, not a jeweller quote
- Making charges and margins are not included
- Pawning interest is simple monthly % on the advance
- LTV presets are typical ranges, not provider offers

Frequently Asked Questions

Published gold-advance rates from major banks ran about 13%–16.5% per year when last checked — the comparison table on this page lists each bank's rate with its checked date and a link to the official page. CBSL caps the advance at 70% of the gold's value for licensed banks and finance companies; providers set the actual rate and terms.

Related Resources

Currency Converter Exchange Rates EMI Calculator CBSL Daily Gold Rates

Last updated: October 2026

Data updated October 2026

Sources & methodology

Part of the Utilities & Rates collection

Methodology

Related guides

Guide

Budgeting Guide Sri Lanka 2026

Fit gold savings and pawn-loan costs into a household budget

Related Tools

Calculator

Gold Calculator Sri Lanka

What is your gold worth?

Loan vs gold growth

The loan

Your gold

What you owe vs what you hold

Interest paid vs gold gain over time

If gold moves differently…

Three ways to play it

Budget — how much gold can you buy?

Enter your budget

Pawning estimate

Published bank pawning rates

Karat price reference

Example: value of 1 pawn of 22K gold

What This Calculator Does

Inputs and Assumptions

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

Sources & methodology

How we calculate

CBSL daily gold rates

Get markets & investments change alerts

Related guides

Budgeting Guide Sri Lanka 2026

Related Tools

Currency Converter Sri Lanka

Exchange Rates Sri Lanka

FD Interest Calculator Sri Lanka

EMI Calculator Sri Lanka

Community — gold & savings