Sri Lanka’s first Cross-Border Payment Symposium paves way for digital tourism boom

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 04:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka last week marked a significant milestone in its digital payments landscape with the successful hosting of its first-ever Cross-Border Payment Symposium, organised by LankaPay in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and other key tourism industry bodies.

The landmark event brought together financial leaders, tourism stakeholders, and representatives from regional payment networks to explore the transformative impact of cross-border payment solutions on the country’s tourism and financial sectors.

The symposium features discussions on Sri Lanka’s advancements in digital payments infrastructure, with key decision-makers from destination management companies, tour operators, and financial institutions in attendance.

As Sri Lanka’s trusted payments infrastructure provider, LankaPay has been at the forefront of digital payment innovations, strengthening its global footprint through strategic partnerships with major international payment networks.

These collaborations include NPCI International Payment Ltd., (NIPL) for UPI payments, Alipay+ and WeChat Pay for cross-border QR payments, UnionPay International for cross-border ATM and QR payments, JCB International Japan for cross-border ATM and card payments, Mastercard for QR payments under the “pay as a local” initiative, and Discover Financial Services for cross-border ATM acceptance in Sri Lanka. Through these partnerships, LankaPay has ensured a seamless and cost-effective payment experience for international visitors, while reducing transaction costs for local businesses.

The symposium served as a platform for several industry experts to share their insights on global payment trends and the role of digital payments in boosting the economy.

Presentations were delivered by Ant International (Alipay+) General Manager – Ant International for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and Global Strategic Partnerships Edward Yue, Discover Financial Services Regional Vice President – APAC Sandhya Panicker, JCB International in Sri Lanka Consultant Lakshman Liyanage, Mastercard for Sri Lanka and Maldives Manager – Retail and Commerce Dhanushka Thenabadu, NIPL Head – Asia Pacific Sonal Asnani, UnionPay International Head of South Asia Binghan Hu, and Tencent Head of Innovative and Strategic Partnership – Weixin Pay Southeast Asia Gary Wong.

Their presentations provided valuable insights into how seamless cross-border transactions can transform Sri Lanka’s tourism and financial landscape and underscored the importance of seamless cross-border transactions in enhancing Sri Lanka’s tourism and financial landscape.

A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion, where industry experts delved into regional best practices and strategies for accelerating the adoption of seamless payment solutions in Sri Lanka. The symposium underscored LankaPay’s commitment to fostering a digitally empowered economy and strengthening Sri Lanka’s financial ecosystem.

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