SBI Sri Lanka launches Visa EMV Classic International Debit Card

Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and State Bank of India, Colombo Branch CEO and Country Head Rajeev Ratna Srivastava display the newly launched Visa card recenty at Taj Samudra hotel  – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

SBI Sri Lanka (SBISL) launched its EMV Classic International Debit Card on Visa platform as part of its retail initiatives in the august presence of its longstanding customers and distinguished invitees at the Taj Samudra, Colombo. 

The card was launched by two of the bank’s prestigious customers, Speaker Karu JayasuriyaandHigh Commissioner of India to Sri LankaTaranjit Singh Sandhu. The first cards were presented to them bySBI Sri LankaCountry Head Rajeev Ratna Srivastava.

SBI Sri Lanka is the oldest commercial bank operating in Sri Lanka and is a branch of Indian Banking Giant, State Bank of India (SBI).SBI is the leader in technology in India and SBISL has been thriving to provide the same level of technology to its local clients in Sri Lanka.  The EMV Classic International Debit Card introduced by SBISL can be used on all ATMs connected to Common ATM Switch (CAS) of Lanka Clear, for online payments and at all merchant outlets accepting Visa cards in Sri Lanka. All online transactions are secured by Verified-by-VISA (VbV) to provide an additional layer of security to transactions. 

The EMV Classic International Debit Card is activated by default for use in India. However, the usage may be activated in other countries of the world on specific request of the customers. The restrictions on usage in India and Sri Lanka have been put in place to protect the card from misuse by fraudsters using card details online or at POS.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Jayasuriya mentioned that he was having long business relations with SBI Sri Lanka and does maintain his personal account with the bank even today. 

Jayasuriya emphasised on the role of banks in economy in general, and contribution of SBI Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan economy as a special mention.

Sandhushared about commercial relations between India and Sri Lanka and role of SBI in bringing in the Indian investment to Sri Lanka. He congratulated SBISL on launching the card and shared his expectation for deeper and stronger role on SBISL in strengthening local economy.

Srivastava saidthat SBISL was specifically targeting at local retail customers in order to provide them world class security and convenience in their banking transactions leveraging the strengths and experience of its parent bank in India.