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Robocash Sri Lanka predicts significant growth in digital retail payments
Sri Lanka’s digital retail payments are poised for remarkable expansion, with the potential to reach up to Rs 77.2 trillion by 2027, according to analysis by Robocash Sri Lanka. This represents a substantial 128 percent increase from the 2022 level. The optimistic forecast by the company is contingent on the assumption that all major macroeconomic indicators will achieve equilibrium or exhibit stable positive trends over 12 quarters, commencing in 2024.
Robocash is a financial group of companies providing robotic financial services in the field of alternative lending and marketplace funding.In a less favourable long-term scenario, the company anticipates that the total volume of digital retail payments in Sri Lanka will still reach Rs 43.94 trillion by 2027, reflecting a 30 percent increase from the 2022 level.
Sri Lanka is known for its high rate of citizens with active bank accounts and is currently witnessing a burgeoning fintech expansion, displaying resilience even in the face of economic challenges. As of 2022, approximately 90 percent of the population holds active bank accounts, with an impressive 18.7 million debit cards in circulation. This has resulted in an outstanding 85 percent debit card usage rate, surpassing the global average of 51 percent.
However, the utilization of credit cards in Sri Lanka stands at 10 percent, slightly below the global average of 22 percent. Nonetheless, this trend bodes well for Sri Lanka’s fintech market, illustrating its potential for growth even in challenging economic conditions.
As of early 2023, Sri Lanka has made significant strides in embracing digitalization, boasting 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 percent, underscores the strong digital skills among its adult population.
The e-commerce sector in Sri Lanka is flourishing, with 5.5 million users and a market value of Rs.777.6 billion (US$ 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 percent from 2023 to 2027, reaching a market volume of Rs 1,387.52 billion (US$ 4.28 billion) by 2027.
Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital payments in Sri Lanka have seen substantial growth, with transactions surging from Rs 5.6 trillion in 1Q2021 to Rs 9.4 trillion in 1Q2023, marking a 68 percent growth rate over two years. The value of transactions via the Lanka QR digital payment gateway reached Rs. 681 million in 3Q2023, demonstrating an 84 percent year-on-year growth.
Both the Sri Lankan government and the private sector have been instrumental in promoting digital payments, playing pivotal roles in enhancing digital payment solutions and fostering financial inclusion.
In the coming years, Sri Lanka plans to implement a Digital Government initiative aimed at streamlining digital identification and document digitization. This initiative is expected to significantly facilitate electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) for digital service providers and further boost fintech penetration.
Despite recent economic challenges, Sri Lanka’s fintech sector remains optimistic. The number of digital payment users is projected to reach 10 million by 2027, with a projected transaction value of Rs. 4,481.32 billion (US$ 13.83 billion), growing at a CAGR of 20.54 percent.
Mobile point-of-sale (POS) payments are expected to dominate, with 3.2 million users and a transaction value of Rs 2,342.16 billion (USD 7.24 billion). Additionally, the Digital Assets segment is on track to reach Rs. 3,978 million (US$ 12.25 million) in 2023, with a remarkable 56.5 percent revenue growth projected for 2024.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that Sri Lanka’s economy faces challenges, including high public debt, inflation risks, and limited foreign investments. The nation’s economic recovery hinges on structural reforms and political stability.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.
Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.
The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka
Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026
Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.
The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.
The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.
Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.
India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.
Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.
During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.
In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.
The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.
In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.
The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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