Business
DFCC Bank collaborates with Mastercard to facilitate electronic payments via Mastercard Payment Gateway
In its endeavor to support Sri Lankan businesses, DFCC Bank, the Bank for Everyone, announced the implementation of Mastercard into its Payment Gateway to empower customers to sell goods and services online and receive payments electronically.
The implementation of the Mastercard Payment Gateway is yet another milestone in the bank’s journey of digital service enablement. The bank continues to drive digital adoption and is actively contributing to the banking sector as the nation increasingly embraces a digital economy.
This service will be available for micro, small, medium, and large businesses that price their products with varied values, thereby giving them the potential to grow and contribute to the digital economy. Mastercard Payment Gateway will enable the acceptance of payments through platforms in which micro-businesses transact on regular basis. It will allow the Bank to customize the service offerings to each business, making it conveniently accessible while also tightly managing inherent risks.
Discussing the implementation of the Payment Gateway service by DFCC Bank, Aasiri Iddamalgoda, Senior Vice President – Retail Banking and SME at DFCC Bank said, “As the Bank for Everyone, we understand that there is a crucial need for reliable and secure digital payment infrastructure with a wide range of payment options. It is with pleasure that we enter into this collaboration with Mastercard Payment Gateway services, being one of the most popular payment processors, to empower our merchant network to enable eCommerce services. We believe this will add convenience for customers, industry partners and merchants, and help to expand business opportunities and extend access to products and services, across Sri Lanka.”
Through this collaboration, the DFFC Bank aims to increase acceptance by partnering with service providers and penetrating emerging market segments.
Commenting on this development, Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Mastercard, added, “We are delighted to collaborate with DFCC Bank, which aims to enable merchants to accept payments online where their customers are and benefit from the reach and security to compete in the new world of digital payments. At Mastercard, our focus is always to bring best-in-class solutions and payment methods that offer seamless, secure and frictionless check-out experience for consumers.”
The newly implemented Mastercard Payment Gateway has state-of-the-art advanced APIs which provide seamless integration with eCommerce websites or mobile applications. One of the key features is the ‘simplified commerce’ service, which allows a merchant website or account integration with Mastercard Payment Gateway in a seamless and secure manner. This feature helps micro, small and medium businesses to reduce their operating cost and concentrate on what really matters to their business. It supports the latest 3D secure payments which is 3DS 2.0 (EMV 3DS) solutions, which promotes frictionless consumer authentication, enabling cardholders to authenticate themselves with their card issuer when transacting online.
The additional security layer helps prevent unauthorized transactions and protects the business from exposure to fraud. The service supports various popular plug-ins such as WooCommerce, OpenCart, Prestashop, Magento, and others, along with a tokenization solution for recurring payments. Mastercard Payment Gateway comes with the latest technologies in an innovative space where Android Point of Sale (PoS) machines can be connected to accept face-to-face payments.
By Ifham Nizam
As Sri Lanka gears up for a transformative shift in its energy sector, the Results Delivery Framework (RDF) 2025-26 lays out a strategic roadmap toward a cleaner, more sustainable and people-centric energy future.
Eng. Pubudu Niroshan Hedigallage, Director General, Power Sector Reforms Secretariat and a member of the Energy Committee, emphasizes the critical role of public awareness and global integration in achieving these ambitious goals.
“The success of our energy transition depends on people being on the same page, says Hedigallage. “We need a unified approach where policies align with public interest, ensuring energy security while reducing our carbon footprint.”
The RDF focuses on three main pillars:
Affordable and Secure, Cleaner Energy Supply
Smart and Sensible, People-Centric Energy
Strategic Global Integration in the Energy Sector
To achieve energy security and affordability, Sri Lanka is set to establish a National Energy Policy & Planning Office (NEPPO) in the first half of 2025. This office will serve as the central body for policy formulation and planning, ensuring a structured approach to clean energy adoption.
A key initiative is the “Rivi Bala Punarudaya” solar program, aiming to add 2,000 MW of solar energy within five years. “Solar power is one of the most viable solutions for Sri Lanka. It’s time to accelerate large-scale adoption, Hedigallage asserts.
Additionally, the government plans to begin competitive procurement for 1,000 MW of wind energy along the Puttalam-Jaffna coastal belt by mid-2025.
Hedigallage stresses the importance of policy reforms to align industrial and regulatory frameworks. “Introducing the Energy Transition Act in late 2025 will harmonize all sector-related laws, ensuring smoother implementation of new initiatives, he explains.
Other people-centric initiatives include:
Amendments to the Electricity Act to facilitate restructuring within the energy sector.
A Demand Response Program, developed with the Ministry of Digital Economy, to optimize energy consumption.
A techno-commercial collaboration program connecting universities, industries and utilities to drive innovation.
The Women-in-Energy National Program, launching in late 2025, to increase female participation in the sector.
Recognizing the importance of international collaboration, the RDF aims to position Sri Lanka as a key player in the global energy market.
A state agency for green hydrogen initiatives will be established in late 2025 to explore hydrogen as an alternative energy source.
By early 2026, a digital risk management dashboard will be launched to monitor reservoir levels, fuel inventories, and energy demand in real time.
The Green Energy Certification Unit, to be established in 2026, will authenticate renewable energy usage with Renewable Energy Certificates (REC).
ESG (Environment, Sustainability, and Governance) frameworks will be introduced to ensure sustainable energy sector practices.
A global energy forum will be launched in 2026 to connect Sri Lanka to international energy value chains.
With these ambitious plans, Sri Lanka is set to become a leader in clean energy in the region. “Our energy future is not just about technology and infrastructure; it’s about people, policy, and partnerships, Hedigallage added.
Mintpay, a pioneering financial app reshaping how people pay in Sri Lanka, has announced a landmark partnership with Softlogic Restaurants. This collaboration aims to enhance the dining experience for food enthusiasts by offering convenient, secure, and flexible payment options. Softlogic Restaurants, renowned for its portfolio of beloved brands such as Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Crystal Jade, Delifrance, and Baskin Robbins, will now enable customers to enjoy a wide variety of cuisines through Mintpay’s seamless digital payment solution.
Mintpay Account Manager Sasra Wickrama Arachchi stated, “At Mintpay, we aim to transform every payment into a rewarding moment, and we believe this partnership with Softlogic Restaurants delivers on that promise, making every meal more rewarding.”
Mintpay Senior Business Development Executive Faziha Farhan added, “At Mintpay, we’re always expanding our network by partnering with brands that share our vision for seamless and rewarding payments. We’re excited to welcome Burger King, the first global QSR brand in Sri Lanka to integrate Mintpay, alongside other renowned Softlogic restaurants. This partnership marks another step in transforming the dining experience for all our customers, offering greater flexibility and convenience whenever they use Mintpay.”
Business
Haleon partners Sri Lanka Dental Association as Official Sponsor for World Oral Health Day 2025
Haleon Sri Lanka formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare; the first multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing organization in Sri Lanka, which commenced manufacturing in 1956 with the flagship brands Panadol, Iodex Eno etc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lanka Dental Association (SLDA) as the official sponsor of World Oral Health Day 2025 in Sri Lanka. The formal signing ceremony took take place on Friday, February 28, 2025. The global theme for this year is “A happy mouth is … a happy mind” which emphasises the importance of oral health on quality of life and wellbeing.
The partnership between SLDA and Haleon; Marketers of Sensodyne aims to transform the conventional methods of celebrating World Oral Health Day. The landmark agreement reimagines World Oral Health Day with an awareness-driven approach themed “#BeSensitiveToOralHealth: Take the first step.” The month-long March campaign will educate Sri Lankans about proactive oral healthcare through strategic messaging across traditional and digital platforms, encouraging everyone to prioritize their oral health. The collaboration represents a significant commitment to improving oral health awareness and access to dental care across Sri Lanka.
Haleon and SLDA will work together to extend awareness that results in tangible healthcare benefits nationwide. Free dental screening facilities will be provided across the island, benefiting approximately 50,000 Sri Lankans.
Beginning March 20th, World Oral Health Day, will take place as a national event at Galle Face, Colombo will serve as the campaign centrepiece, offering free dental screenings, oral cancer assessments, and teeth sensitivity tests to increase public understanding of good oral health practices. All SLDA members will actively participate in this nationwide health initiative making quality dental care accessible to communities throughout the country.
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