National QR Payment Promotion Programme launched by President

Marking a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s digital economy, the launch of the “National QR Payment Promotion Programme” officially commenced today (06) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Effective immediately, the service charge on LankaQR transactions up to Rs. 5,000 has been completely removed for merchants, encouraging wider adoption of digital payments. This initiative aims to transition Sri Lanka towards a cash-lite economy by reducing reliance on coins and banknotes.  

Supported by over 20 financial institutions and accepted at 450,000 merchant locations nationwide, LankaQR already processes millions of transactions quarterly. 

Digital payments still constitute a small fraction of total currency in circulation, which stands at Rs. 1.48 trillion. To bridge this gap, targeted strategies, including a raffle contest offering prizes up to Rs. 1 million, will be introduced to motivate consumers and merchants alike.  

A nationwide promotional campaign in Sinhala, Tamil, and English has also been launched to promote QR payments, alongside a “Social Visibility Index” to ensure transparency across all districts. 

This programme represents a significant step toward a secure, inclusive, and fully digital payments ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

Source - The Morning