Business
HNB supports digital payments adoption drive in Negombo
Extending it’s support to the rapid development of a vibrant cashless payments ecosystem, Sri Lanka’s leading private bank, HNB PLC, participated in the latest edition of the ‘Rata Purama LANKAQR’ campaign of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), held recently in Negombo.
HNB interacted with merchants, including small businesses, educating them on the advantages and strengths of its LANKAQR-integrated HNB SOLO payment app during the day-long event. Given the strong interest displayed by them, HNB representatives also onboarded a significant number of these merchants to the HNB SOLO platform.
The event held at the Kadolkale Grounds in Negombo was attended by CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal as the Chief Guest, together with CBSL Assistant Governor Dharmasiri Kumaratunga and senior officials from leading commercial banks.
The first to introduce multiple technological developments to the Sri Lankan banking sector, HNB has played a prominent role in increasing public awareness of the benefits of digital payments in the country. The bank has continued to amplify and ramp up these efforts, both through its own programmes and by extending its steadfast support to CBSL’s ‘Rata Purama LANKAQR’ initiative.
“A vibrant cashless payment ecosystem has the potential to drastically enhance economic activity at the grassroots of the Sri Lankan economy. These systems help accelerate the speed of business, and particularly for small businesses, they can help establish new markets and carry out transactions securely and conveniently,” HNB Head of Digital Business, Chammika Weerasinghe said.
Launched in late 2020, the ‘Rata Purama LANKAQR’ campaign seeks to increase the usage of Sri Lanka’s national common Quick Response (QR) code standard developed by the CBSL. This initiative, which eliminates the need for merchants to have multiple QR codes for different platforms, facilitates fast, secure and affordable digital payments, benefiting customers and merchants. Financial institutions and telecommunication companies are supporting the CBSL in its efforts to transition towards a cashless society.
HNB aims to make mobile phones and digital payments the standard for day-to-day transactions throughout the country and has played a prominent role in driving the country’s cashless QR-code based payments revolution.
HNB SOLO merchant (Good Food & Body Care- Negombo), Mr & Mrs Kapila Paliyakkara at the event.
HNB SOLO, launched in 2019, facilitates enhanced efficiency in payments and transactions, while eliminating the need for physical contact. QR-code based-payments through HNB SOLO are more cost-effective, when compared to alternative payment solutions available in the market. The intuitive, user-friendly and sophisticated app has significantly increased the convenience of making a wide range of QR-based payments. Users can make payments via LANKA QR by scanning the code using SOLO. Upon completion, merchants will receive an instant SMS notification, confirming the receipt of payment.
HNB has been continuously enhancing the app’s features and functionality, by further improving its user interface.
Going even further in its digital payments journey, the bank has also introduced Dynamic QR technology in partnership with both Keells Supermarkets and Singer, in which a unique code is generated for each transaction. This allows customers using an app linked with the LANKAQR to make contactless purchases at stores by simply scanning the Dynamic QR, which appears on the display screen of the Point of Sale (PoS) machine. By eliminating the need to manually enter the payment value, this mechanism increases customer convenience and avoids errors.
Business
President briefs Sri Lankan delegation leaving for tariff related discussions in Washington
A Sri Lankan delegation is set to participate in discussions in Washington, D.C., focusing on tariff-related matters, following an invitation extended by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the second in-person meeting aimed at ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two nations.
This initiative builds on several prior virtual interactions held between the USTR and Sri Lankan officials, and underscores a commitment to deepening economic ties. The upcoming talks are anticipated to explore avenues for enhancing trade cooperation and securing favourable outcomes for Sri Lanka, in light of current economic priorities.
Ahead of the visit, a high-level meeting was convened today under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to ensure the country’s interests are well represented. The discussion focused on aligning the delegation’s approach with Sri Lanka’s broader economic strategy, ensuring the best possible outcomes from the upcoming discussions.
Key participants at the meeting included Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development K.M.M. Siriwardana; Nirmal Vigneshwaran, representing the Attorney General’s Department; and Dharshana Perera from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details of the discussions in Washington are expected to be made available following the conclusion of the meetings.
[PMD]
Sri Lanka’s largest tourism exhibition, “Tourism Renaissance 2025” (Sancharaka Udawa 2025), was inaugurated on Friday (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), this event brings together key stakeholders across the tourism industry. It offers a valuable platform for small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as individuals aspiring to enter the tourism sector, to connect with market opportunities and showcase their products and services.
The two-day exhibition, which ends on Saturday [24], features 250 trade stalls and includes participation from a wide range of sectors such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, service providers and educational institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the government has declared 2025 the “Year of Tourism Renaissance,” with plans to generate USD 5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector by the end of the year.
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, SLAITO Chairman Nalin Jayasundara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and a distinguished group of invitees including the Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”
The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.
“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”
By Ifham Nizam
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