Business
FriMi Marks 5 years of Revolutionizing the Sri Lankan Fintech Industry
FriMi, the first fully-fledged digital bank in Sri Lanka powered by Nations Trust Bank PLC, recently marked 5 years of revolutionizing the Fintech industry in Sri Lanka. The mobile wallet and payments platform – wrapped up in one lifestyle app and packed with a multitude of innovative features to make life effortless – is set to celebrate their anniversary by rewarding customers through exciting promotions and activities throughout the month of July.
Offering ultimate convenience, FriMi allows customers to perform various tasks from making payments to moving money to saving money and even opening a bank account, 100% digitally via the app. Cashless payments include LANKAQR, Remote payments, Bill & Credit Card payments, Physical and Virtual Debit Cards, whereas Send Money, Cash Tokens and Fund Transfer options help move money seamlessly. The app also promotes saving in a meaningful and effortless way through features such as Saving Pots, Round Up Savings, Bucketlist and Digital Fixed Deposits – most of them being first of its kind in Sri Lanka.
Hemantha Gunetilleke, Director/CEO of Nations Trust Bank PLC commented, “This 5-year milestone is an achievement for both FriMi and the Bank as it is a true testament of our continued efforts to reimagine banking in the digital world. Disrupting the banking industry since 2017, FriMi has not only evolved with pioneering products and services but has also played an important role in championing and enabling contactless payments across the country. We’re proud to have been a part of various national-level initiatives such as the implementation of the digital KYC process with the Department of Registered Persons and the enablement of LANKAQR payments at all the Expressway toll pay points and we will remain committed to uplifting Sri Lanka towards a digital forward economy.”
The FriMi app has been internationally recognized by The Asian Banker as one of the ‘Top 30 Best Digital Financial Services Providers in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa’ and by the International Business Magazine Awards 2021 as the ‘Most Innovative Contactless Payments Application in Sri Lanka’. Locally, FriMi was recently awarded the ‘Online Brand of the Year 2021’ – Bronze at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2021 and has been named one of the ‘Top 10 E-Commerce brands of Sri Lanka’ by the LMD Brands Annual Report 2020.
“As the first lifestyle and digital banking experience in Sri Lanka, FriMi has been encouraging the behaviour of contactless payments and providing a range of unique services that go beyond banking, creating true value for the customer. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal FriMians, partners and merchants who’ve been onboard with us in the last 5 years and of course, the FriMi team who have supported us throughout our revolutionary journey in Sri Lanka’s digital payments landscape,” said Randil Boteju, Senior Vice President, Acquisition & Digital Banking of Nations Trust Bank.
“We really look forward to introducing more unique and revolutionary digital solutions to make our customer’s lives even more effortless, while also making a positive contribution to the digital ecosystem in Sri Lanka,” added Boteju.
FriMi is available on Android, iOS and Harmony OS and anyone in Sri Lanka above the age of 18 years can get on board FriMi by downloading the app. FriMi is powered by Nations Trust Bank PLC which is among the top 15 business establishments in Sri Lanka as ranked by Business Today and is strongly focused on digital empowerment through cutting-edge digital banking technologies.
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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