“People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiya – 2025” remittance rewards Lankan expatriates

People’s Bank Deputy General Manager – Overseas Customer Services Aruni Liyanagunawardana

• Initiative by People’s Bank reinforces loyalty, trust, and contribution to national growth

People’s Bank has launched its “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai” for the fourth consecutive year to appreciate and engage with the growing Sri Lankan expatriate community, recognising their invaluable contribution to the nation’s economy. 

The bank’s dedication to recognising the sacrifices and labour of Sri Lankans overseas is demonstrated by this extensive endeavour. By concentrating on Workers’ Remittances, People’s Bank aims to provide the highest level of efficiency, security, and convenience to these clients while simultaneously cultivating enduring connections.

By offering tailored banking solutions that enhance convenience—such as real-time, web-based remittance platforms for instant credits/cash payouts, competitive exchange rates, advanced digital services, and low transaction costs—People’s Bank aims to strengthen its bond with Sri Lankan expatriates. Committed to enhancing customer experience, the bank strives to be the trusted financial partner for those sending money home. Beyond attracting new business, it focuses on ensuring that remitters continue to use secure, legitimate financial channels, ultimately supporting the nation’s economic growth.

People’s Bank Deputy General Manager – Overseas Customer Services Aruni Liyanagunawardana stated, “At People’s Bank, we deeply appreciate the unwavering dedication and hard work of Sri Lankan expatriates who support their families while contributing to the nation’s progress. Our commitment goes beyond providing secure and efficient remittance services—we strive to build lasting relationships that empower our customers to achieve their financial goals and invest in a prosperous future.”

The “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai” program, running through 2025, serves as the central theme of this campaign. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has made a significant impact by recognising the invaluable contributions of Sri Lankan expatriates. 

A key highlight of the campaign is the weekly draw from 1 January to 31 December 2025, offering a travel package to Bangkok for participants who remit funds through People’s Bank—whether to accounts within the bank or via partner services such as Western Union, Ria, and other over-the-counter cash collection channels. Through this initiative, People’s Bank reaffirms its deep appreciation for the dedication of Sri Lankans working abroad and their vital role in shaping the nation’s economic future.

The “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai 2025” campaign takes its commitment to recognising remitters a step further with a series of targeted marketing initiatives in different specific time spans, each dedicated to honouring different customer segments receiving foreign remittances. These include “Ran Kaasi Vaasi” in January, which celebrates high-value remitters and reward with gold coins, and “Nidahas Pranama” in February, recognising the children of expatriates by encouraging the opening of “Ethera Udana” PFCA Minors’ accounts during Independence Week, with one selected family per branch receiving a special cash reward. 

In March, “Vanitha Pranama” commemorates International Women’s Day, focusing on empowering women. This campaign focuses on female beneficiaries and the top ten female account holders who receive the highest value of Workers’ Remittances into their People’s Bank accounts during March 2025 are each awarded cash prizes of Rs. 50,000. Through these initiatives—whether via specific categories or random draws—People’s Bank expresses its deep appreciation for all remitters and their invaluable contributions to the nation’s economy.

Additionally, with the “Kalin Awurudu Vaasi” promotion, which coincides with Sri Lanka’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, 25 lucky winners will receive essential goods packs worth Rs. 25,000 each. Through this initiative, People’s Bank reaffirms its support for Sri Lankan expatriates by helping them celebrate the New Year with their families, ensuring they feel connected and appreciated during this special time of the year.

In May, in conjunction with the “Shrama Harasara” initiative, initiated to commemorate International Labour Day, clients who establish new Personal Foreign Currency Accounts (PFCAs) in May 2025 will qualify for significant advantages. This project highlights People’s Bank’s dedication to acknowledging and compensating the efforts of Sri Lankans working abroad, whose remittances substantially enhance the country’s foreign exchange reserves and economic growth.

On 1 July, in celebration of People’s Bank’s 64th anniversary, the “Sanwathsara Pranama” promotion will award 64 lucky winners with essential goods bags worth Rs. 15,000 each. The winners will be selected randomly from individuals who receive workers’ remittances directly into their People’s Bank accounts (FC/LKR) between 1 and 30 June 2025. This initiative recognises the vital contributions of expatriates and reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to supporting their families in Sri Lanka.

In October, as part of its commitment to supporting the future of young savers, People’s Bank will introduce the “Doo Daru Pranama” initiative, rewarding minors who open “Ethera Udana” Minors’ Accounts between 1 October and 31 December 2025. Through a random draw, two winners from each branch will receive specially designed “Ethera Udana” school equipment sets worth Rs. 5,000 each. This initiative aims to encourage financial literacy among children while recognising the efforts of Sri Lankan expatriates investing in their children’s future.

In addition to the monetary rewards, customers benefit from long-term advantages such as access to loans, overseas debit cards, credit cards, cost-effective remittance services, competitive interest rates and online banking and mobile banking facilities. Through this array of products and services, People’s Bank provides essential banking solutions designed to simplify financial management for expatriates while helping them optimise their savings potential.

To address the particular requirements of expats, People’s Bank has introduced a range of foreign currency accounts in keeping with these initiatives. The bank makes sure that expatriates have many options they need to save and invest short term or long term for the future, from the “Ethera Isura” Personal Foreign Currency savings/fixed deposit account, “Ethera Isura Premier PFC Savings Account” to the “Ethera Udana” Personal Foreign Currency Minors’ Account, which is intended to fund kids’ education. Additionally, the bank offers chances for long-term financial growth through the “People’s FX Future Plus” Deposit. In addition, the bank encourages and promotes investments to the country via “Inward Investment Account (IIA)”.

The bank offers services such as Pre-Departure Loans for individuals preparing to travel abroad, ensuring that all essential financial requirements, from visa expenses to airfare, are satisfied. In addition, expatriates are eligible for a unique loan program that may be utilised for a variety of purposes, such as the acquisition of vehicles, housing, education, and renewable energy.

In conclusion, People’s Bank is dedicated to fostering lasting relationships with Sri Lankan expatriates while also offering financial solutions. The bank is committed to enhancing the lives of expatriates and their families while simultaneously stimulating the national economy through exclusive promotions, tailored account options, and personalised assistance. The People’s Bank continues to cultivate trust, loyalty, and a promising future for expatriates and their home country through initiatives such as the People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai campaign.