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Volume of Sri Lanka’s retail digital transactions to potentially reach Rs 77.2 trillion

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Sri Lanka’s total volume of digital retail payments can potentially reach up to Rs 77.2 trillion by 2027, 128% more than the 2022 level, analysis from Robocash Sri Lanka has revealed.

The company’s optimistic forecast is based on the assumption that all major macroeconomic indicators in the next five years reach their equilibrium level or have stable positive dynamics over 12 quarters, starting in 2024.

In the worst long-term scenario, the company expects the total volume of digital retail payments in Sri Lanka to reach Rs 43.94 trillion by 2027, 30% more than the 2022 level.

Sri Lanka is widely recognized for its high rate of citizens with active bank accounts, and it is currently in the midst of an impressive fintech expansion, demonstrating remarkable resilience even in the face of economic challenges. As of 2022, approximately 90% of the population holds active bank accounts, and there are a notable 18.7 million debit cards in circulation. This has contributed to an outstanding 85% debit card usage rate, significantly surpassing the global average of 51%.

However, the utilization of credit cards in Sri Lanka currently stands at 10%, which is slightly below the global average of 22%. Nevertheless, this trend paints an optimistic and promising picture for Sri Lanka’s fintech market, underscoring its potential to thrive even in challenging economic conditions.

As of early 2023, Sri Lanka has seen substantial progress in embracing digitalization, with 14.6 million internet users and 7.2 million active social media users. The country’s digital literacy rate, on par with developed European Union (EU) countries at 57%, reflects the strong digital skills among its adult population. Notably, the e-commerce sector is thriving, boasting 5.5 million users and a market value of Rs 777.6 billion (USD 2.4 billion) in 2023, primarily driven by the electronics segment. The e-commerce market is projected to maintain an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.29% from 2023 to 2027, reaching a market volume of Rs 1,387.52 billion (USD 4.28 billion)1 by 2027.

In an era marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital payments in Sri Lanka have experienced remarkable growth. Transactions have surged from Rs 5.6 trillion in Q1 2021 to RS 9.4 trillion in Q1 2023, representing a growth rate of 68% over 2 years. The value of transactions via the Lanka QR digital payment gateway amounted to Rs 681 million in Q3 2023, showing a growth of 84% year-on-year.

Both the Sri Lankan government and the private sector have made substantial efforts to promote digital payments, playing pivotal roles in enhancing digital payment solutions and fostering financial inclusion.



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British Council Sri Lanka launches soft skills workshops to elevate learning and empower communication

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The British Council team answering questions on Corporate English Solutions from leading corporates about professional development skills courses

The British Council Sri Lanka has launched Corporate English Solutions (CES), tailored to the Sri Lankan corporate and education ecosystem, aimed at helping organisations strengthen workplace communication and professional development.

The launch event took place recently at the NH Collection, Colombo 3, gathering corporate partners, clients and education stakeholders throughout the country.

CES extends the British Council’s long-standing work in English language education and teacher training into a dedicated offering for the corporate sector. The launch introduced two new components to the British Council’s presence in Sri Lanka such as public workshops and teacher training programmes, open to learners and educators beyond the organisation’s existing corporate and academic partners. Guests at the event were shown a short video introducing Corporate English Solutions before the formal proceedings began.

Talal Meer, British Council Regional Business Development Director, South Asia, welcomed guests and introduced the British Council’s team in Sri Lanka. In his remarks, Meer set out the scope of the CES launch, covering the introduction of public workshops in Sri Lanka, the rollout of teacher training programmes, and an overview of the CES product portfolio. Meer’s role covers educational partnerships in the South Asia region, and his address framed the Sri Lanka launch within the British Council’s broader regional strategy.

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Ogilvy Group tops award tally at ‘Dragons of Sri Lanka’ 2026

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Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka delivered a standout performance at the recently concluded Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026 Awards, securing a total of nine awards comprising two Gold Dragons, one Silver Dragon and six Black Dragons, among the festival’s highest overall award tallies. Gold Dragon wins for Phoenix Ogilvy and Ogilvy Digital, together with the seven additional recognitions across multiple categories, highlighted Ogilvy’s ability to combine creativity, strategic thinking and commercial effectiveness to deliver business results.

Organised by the 4As Sri Lanka, the third edition of Dragons of Sri Lanka shortlisted more than 50 agencies and corporates, making it one of the country’s most competitive marketing communications awards. These local awards, along with the chapters in Malaysia and Pakistan are part of the Dragons of Asia platform, one of the region’s leading programmes for marketing communications effectiveness, with entries being judged on strategy, originality, execution and measurable results.

Ogilvy Digital accounted for eight awards in total, including a Gold Dragon in the Business & Trade Marketing category, and a Silver Dragon in the Innovative Idea or Concept category. The Agency additionally received six Black Dragons across the categories of Innovative Idea or Concept, Business & Trade Marketing, Content Creation, Small Budget, Event or Experiential, and Brand Trial or Sales Generation.

Commenting on the achievement, Sajith Weerasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy Digital, said, “These recognitions reflect the breadth of capabilities we’ve built across strategy, creative, content, experience design, technology and performance marketing. The fact that the work was recognised across so many different disciplines demonstrates our ability to apply creativity to a wide range of business challenges and objectives. We’re proud that this achievement spans multiple clients, categories and types of work, reflecting both the versatility of our people and our commitment to delivering results.”

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Anjalie Munasinghe appointed Secretary of CIPR International

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Anjalie Munasinghe, Manager, PR & Social Intelligence at Mark and Comm, appointed Secretary of CIPR International

Mark and Comm, Sri Lanka’s leading boutique public relations and communications agency, today announced that Anjalie Munasinghe, its Manager, PR & Social Intelligence, has been appointed Secretary of CIPR International, the international chapter of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Munasinghe brings more than ten years of experience in PR, account management and media monitoring across some of Sri Lanka’s leading agencies. She joined Mark and Comm most recently from AdFactors PR Sri Lanka, where she served as Consultant, Digital Reputation Management, overseeing real time media intelligence and analysis for clients. Before that she was Manager, Public Relations at MullenLowe Sri Lanka.

Her career also spans Senior Public Relations Executive at HardTalk, close to eight years as Public Relations Executive at NGage Strategic Alliance, where her clients and her early training as an AV Coordinator at Ogilvy Sri Lanka. She is a specialist in social listening, crisis communications, sentiment analysis and real time media monitoring, and continues to contribute as an expert commentary or voice to the national media.

CIPR International connects public relations practitioners across five continents and is one of the largest and most diverse sectoral groups within the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, with close to 1,000 members. Mark and Comm’s Managing Director, Thanzyl Thajudeen, also sits on the CIPR International Committee, making Munasinghe’s appointment the second held by someone from the agency and from Sri Lanka.

Taazima Kala, Chair of CIPR International, said: “Anjalie brings the kind of practitioner experience and regional insight the Committee relies on. Her work across Sri Lanka’s public relations industry, particularly in crisis communications and media intelligence, speaks for itself, and we look forward to her contribution as Secretary.”

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