Connect with us

Business

FriMi and Mastercard collaborate to deliver a valuable Cricket World Cup VIP experience

Published

on

Standing from left to right: Mahesha Amarasuriya – Director, Mastercard Sri Lanka, Sandun Hapugoda - Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard, Vikas Varma - Chief Operating Officer, Mastercard, Promotion Winner – Sangeeth Karunaratne, Randil Boteju - Senior Vice President - Digital Banking and Acquisitions of Nations Trust Bank, Malishini Punchihewa - Senior Manager, FriMi, Chameera Bandara - Manager, Cards Business Acquisition, FriMi

FriMi, Sri Lanka’s pioneering fully-fledged digital banking experience powered by Nations Trust Bank, joined forces with Mastercard to create an extraordinary cricket experience for fans during the Cricket World Cup.

The winning FriMians, received exclusive Cricket World Cup VIP Mastercard Experience Box tickets, in addition to an exclusive match day experience for Sri Lankan matches that took place from October 7th to November 9th. These fortunate winners were selected through engaging promotions done via FriMi marketing channels.

Simultaneously, a grand promotion was conducted providing participants a chance to win tickets to the Cricket World Cup and air tickets for the Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand match on November 9th. To qualify, FriMians needed to make transactions worth of Rs. 10,000 or more using the FriMi physical or virtual Mastercard debit card, which automatically entered them into the draw. This initiative not only added to the excitement of the tournament but also highlighted the remarkable outcomes that result from strong partnerships and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

Randil Boteju, Senior Vice President – Digital Banking and Acquisitions of Nations Trust Bank, remarked, “At FriMi, we are dedicated to creating effortless and unforgettable experiences for our customers. Our partnership with Mastercard is an embodiment of our mission to deliver convenience and value to our customers. We are thrilled to provide our FriMians with the chance to Live Effortlessly during the Cricket World Cup.”

Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard has always believed in leveraging the power of collaboration to provide unique and priceless experiences to its partners, customers, and cardholders. Since cricket is a big passion point for people around the world, the company’s association with FriMi will ensure that fans will get to experience many memorable moments during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.”

FriMi the fully-fledged digital banking experience powered by Nations Trust Bank consists of ground-breaking products and services that are designed and developed to delight customers thus providing novel experiences. FriMi has been awarded on both national and regional levels including Online Brand of the Year and ranked amongst the Top 30 Best Digital Financial Services Providers in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. FriMi is available on Android, iOS and Harmony OS and anyone in Sri Lanka above the age of 18 years can get on board FriMi by downloading the app. FriMi is enabled by Nations Trust Bank PLC, the bank is strongly focused on digital empowerment through cutting-edge digital banking technologies.



Business

“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)

Published

on

By

The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).

The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.

The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.

The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.

President’s Media Division)

Continue Reading

Business

Charting a worker-centered AI future: Colombo hosts landmark ITF conference

Published

on

The ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Artificial intelligence and automation present serious challenges for workers – such as job consequences seen in docks and rail systems – and emphasises that workers cannot simply stop technological progress. By gathering young trade unionists in Sri Lanka, the ITF aims to establish key principles for engaging with technology, ensuring workers have a strong voice at the bargaining table, and encouraging constructive social dialogue with corporations and governments.

These compelling words from ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton underscored the urgent reality facing modern labor as rapid technological advancements sweep across global industries.

Confronting this shifting landscape head-on, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), in partnership with the National Union of Seafarers of Sri Lanka (NUSS), convened a ground-breaking conference on artificial intelligence in Colombo from September 15–17.

As the ITF’s first-ever AI-focused global conference and the first of its kind hosted in Sri Lanka, the landmark event marked a critical milestone in balancing technological innovation with worker-centered safeguards.

Representing over 16.6 million transport workers worldwide, the ITF designed the gathering to tackle the multifaceted impacts of AI on safety, operations, workforce development, and governance. Rather than resisting progress, the conference focused on proactive engagement, establishing guiding principles to protect workers’ rights and privacy both at sea and on land.

Key discussions centred on sharing best practices for upskilling and reskilling transport personnel, ensuring that human oversight remains central to AI-driven logistics, routing, and maintenance.

Reflecting on the historic nature of the event, Boa Athu, CEO of National Union of Seafarers Asia Pacific, noted that the conference represented a monumental moment as AI emerges as a permanent fixture of contemporary life.

Highlighting NUSS’s pride in hosting the event in Colombo, Athu emphasised that AI offers transformative potential when guided by strong social dialogue, equitable access to training, and robust governance safeguards.

Ultimately, the Colombo conference demonstrated that the future of transport must be shaped by those who keep the world moving. By uniting international labour leaders, affiliates, port operators, and regulators, the event laid a vital foundation for inclusive policy frameworks that champion fair labour standards, securing a powerful voice for workers in an automated tomorrow.

Continue Reading

Business

Bridging the digital divide: Sri Lanka’s airport licence challenge

Published

on

As tourism surges from digitally advanced markets like India, modern independent travelers arriving at BIA find themselves caught in a mismatch between cloudstored credentials and local paper-based transport protocols.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

As Sri Lanka experiences a surge in visitors from its largest tourist market, India, a modern administrative hurdle has emerged at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

While nations like India and Pakistan have successfully transitioned to fully digital driving licences and cashless ecosystems, Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic counter still requires a physical card to issue temporary local permits, The Island Financial Review learns.

This mismatch creates significant friction for independent travelers who rely entirely on smartphones and cloud-stored credentials. Tourists turned away at the airport – and sometimes redirected to the Werahera office in vain – find themselves unable to legally rent and drive vehicles. Consequently, this policy gap harms local car rental operators, causes tourist frustration, and deprives the government of valuable permit revenue.

The situation highlights a distinct irony: Sri Lankan motorists easily travel abroad using International Driving Permits that are readily accepted in India and Pakistan, yet local infrastructure cannot reciprocate due to outdated verification systems.

Recognizing the problem, Department of Motor Traffic officials have noted that upgrades and new equipment are currently in the works to integrate foreign digital platforms.

For a nation aggressively pursuing a national digitalisation drive, rapidly modernising these transport protocols is essential to keeping pace with global travelers and unlocking the full potential of its tourism economy.

Continue Reading

Trending