Business
HNB SOLO sponsors Fusion Galle Street Food Festival
Continues efforts to target youth to increase cashless payments adoption
Sri Lanka’s most user-friendly payment app, HNB SOLO, sponsored the recently held ‘Fusion Galle Street Food Festival’, continuing its efforts to engage the youth to increase the adoption of cashless payments across Sri Lanka.
The app, introduced by Sri Lanka’s leading private bank, HNB PLC, partnered with sellers who were part of the event, to offer users of SOLO significant discounts and promotions on food and beverage purchases.
The event supported by HNB SOLO for the Third consecutive year was held at the Magistrate Square within the Galle Fort. The event featured food stalls with authentic Sri Lankan, Italian, Indian and Mexican cuisine and a live performance by a musical band.
“The youth can play a key role as ambassadors in driving the adoption of cashless payments across the island. Hence, being a part of events such as this, which attracts a large number of youth, enables HNB SOLO to engage with them and show them first-hand the benefits of the app, especially in making lifestyle purchases,” HNB Head of Digital Business, Chammika Weerasinghe said.
HNB SOLO, launched in 2019, is designed to empower users with complete freedom in digital payments, enabling the flexibility to handle any transaction anywhere, whether purchasing from an established retail franchise or even a small stall or three-wheeler. The intuitive, user-friendly and sophisticated app also eliminates the need for physical contact.
Members of the public at the festival
Members of the public at the festival QR-code based-payments through HNB SOLO are more cost-effective, when compared to alternative payment solutions available in the market. Users can make payments via LANKA QR, Sri Lanka’s national common Quick Response (QR) code standard developed by the Central Bank, by scanning the code using SOLO. Upon completion, merchants will receive an instant SMS notification, confirming the receipt of payment.
Users can download the app from the Google Play Store or the (Apple) App Store for free. Once downloaded, any customer can register for SOLO by entering the mobile number and personal details with no requirement for paperwork at a HNB branch. Customers also can connect the app directly to any bank account or VISA / MASTER credit or debit card.
With 256 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically-innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd. The bank was also ranked among the World’s Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for five consecutive years. HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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