Driving Sri Lanka’s transformation into a vibrant cashless economy, Sri Lanka’s most future ready bank, HNB PLC conducted a QR activation programme to onboard merchants in the Central Region in support of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s ‘Rata Purama LANKAQR’ campaign.
The bank launched a promotional drive to create awareness and encourage the use of cashless payment options at its Katugastota Customer Centre with the attendance of CBSL Director- Payments and Settlements Department, Dharmasri Kumaratunge as Chief Guest of the event, together with HNB Head of Marketing, Chammika Weerasinghe, HNB Head of Digital Services, Shankar Dharmaratne, HNB Regional Business Head- Central Region, Harsha Wickramasinghe and HNB Katugastota Customer Centre Manager, Dulanga Agalakotuwa.
“The establishment of a common standard for transactions through LANKAQR is a clear signal that Sri Lanka is moving towards the cashless society that is accessible to all. We therefore express our gratitude to HNB for wholeheartedly supporting this vital national endeavour, and we look forward to working with them and the banking sector as a whole in order to encourage larger numbers of merchants and customers to adopt QR-based payments as their preferred method of transacting,” CBSL Director – Payments and Settlements Dharmasri Kumaratunge said.
Following the ceremony, several merchants from the region were presented with personalized LANKAQR codes to conduct transactions. Teams from HNB customer centres in the region also raised awareness among merchants in the area regarding cashless and contactless payment options available via platforms like HNB SOLO.
“During the early stages of the pandemic, we witnessed many of our customers seamlessly adopt QR-based payment apps such as HNB SOLO to complete their daily transactions and continue their businesses. We believe that with our extensive customer base and merchant network, we will no doubt be a significant contributor to this innovative initiative,” HNB Head of Marketing Chammika Weerasinghe stated
The two week promotional campaign was a resounding success with over1300 merchants having signed on to receive QR-code payments through mobile payment apps like HNB SOLO.
Launched in 2019 as HNB’s flagship digital payments solution, SOLO provides the convenience of digital transactions via the affordable, easy and widely-adaptable QR code, a more cost effective option when compared to alternative payment solutions available in the market.
Having already linked LANKAQR to SOLO, HNB is among the leading financial institutions and telecommunication partners driving a cashless QR-code based payments revolution that aims to make mobile phones and digital payments the standard for day-to-day transactions island-wide.
As LANKAQR is a common Quick Response (QR) code standard developed by the CBSL, merchants will no longer need not have multiple QR codes for different platforms. Users can make payments via LANKA QR by scanning the code using SOLO. Upon completion, merchants will receive an instant SMS notification, confirming the receipt of payment.
The bank has continuously bolstered the features and functionality of SOLO while refining its user interface in order to make QR-based payments intuitive, easy to use and versatile. SOLO has also provided extensive promotions and rewards to its growing user base. Additionally, the app has the option of digitally storing all payment instruments, including VISA, MASTER debit and credit cards, and any bank account connected to the JustPay payment eco system.