Sampath Bank PLC has officially partnered with Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka PLC, the legal entity behind PickMe, Sri Lanka’s leading technology platform facilitating mobility, delivery and experiences, to successfully integrate Visa’s CyberSource internet Payment Gateway. This milestone reinforces Sri Lanka’s ongoing transition toward a more secure and cashless digital economy by enabling fast, reliable, and secure card payments across PickMe rides and PickMe delivery services.

The integration marks a strategic collaboration between one of Sri Lanka’s top financial institutions and a pioneering tech platform, aiming to streamline mobile payments, enhance digital security, and deliver frictionless customer experiences. It also reflects Sampath Bank’s broader commitment to empowering local digital businesses through world-class financial technology.

“This integration reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s digital payment systems,” said Chirath Samarasekara, Head of Card Centre at Sampath Bank PLC. He further stated, “We’re proud to support PickMe through Visa’s CyberSource payment Gateway, making payments more secure and convenient for users, while helping our partners grow confidently.”

“At PickMe, we’re committed to driving Sri Lanka’s digital transformation by making everyday transactions faster, safer, and more accessible. This partnership with Sampath Bank and Visa’s CyberSource payment Gateway is a major step forward in delivering seamless payment experiences to our users. Together, we’re building a more connected, cashless, and inclusive digital economy,” says Jiffry Zulfer Hassen, CEO at PickMe.

Seaspan Corporation Pte. Ltd., the world’s largest independent charter owner and operator of containerships, and Ceyline Shipping Limited, Sri Lanka’s market leader in Seafarer Recruitment & Placement Services, are celebrating two decades of transformative partnership that has elevated Sri Lanka’s maritime industry on the global stage.

The partnership, established in 2005, has grown from its first deployment of Sri Lankan officers aboard the vessel Dubai Express on December 25, 2005, to become a powerful force in maritime talent development. Today, over 630 onboard Sri Lankan seafarers serve aboard Seaspan’s operating fleet of 241+ vessels, with a total local talent pool exceeding 1,100 professionals.

The collaboration has achieved remarkable milestones, including an industry-leading 95% retention rate and the successful management of 31 vessels fully manned by Sri Lankan ratings between 2023–2024, including seven advanced dual-fuel IGF vessels. The dedicated Seaspan Training Room in Sri Lanka, unique to this partnership, has become a regional center of excellence, providing world-class instruction not only for Sri Lankan crew but for foreign seafarers across Seaspan’s global operations.

Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter to Europe also clinched three other national titles

Omega Line has secured an unprecedented quadruple victory at the Presidential Export Awards 2024/25, claiming the country’s highest export honour alongside three additional national titles in a landmark achievement for Sri Lanka’s apparel sector.

The Oniverse-owned manufacturer was named Best Exporter of the Year and won three further categories: Best Exporter in Product Diversification, Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain, and Best Exporter – Apparel (Large Category). The awards, presented by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board under presidential patronage, recognize the nation’s top- performing exporters.

“I believe deeply in human potential, and our success at Omega Line is a testament to that belief,” said Felix A. Fernando, CEO and Managing Director. “The driving force behind these achievements is our happy and content workforce. This recognition honours the dedication of over 7,500 employees across our facilities who have made Omega Line a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s export economy and validates our commitment to world-class manufacturing and our role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s position in global markets.”

Founded in 1999 as a single facility with 30 employees, Omega Line has grown into one of Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporters to Europe, producing more than 100 million garments annually from its Sandalankawa and Vavuniya operations. Operating under the Oniverse umbrella (formerly Calzedonia), Omega Line and its associated entities, viz. Sirio, Alpha, Benji invested over USD 450 million in Sri Lanka, with annual export values reaching approximately USD 500 million and yearly shipments exceeding 200 million units.

The company’s Vavuniya facility represents the largest private sector investment in the Northern Province, employing 2,900 people and exemplifying Omega Line’s contribution to regional economic development. The award for Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain specifically recognizes this impact beyond the commercial capital.