Business
HNB partners with Cinnamon Hotels to offer LANKAQR payment solutions
Pioneering the evolution of cashless and contactless payments in the tourism sector, Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, partnered with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts to launch the LANKAQR facility for the renowned hospitality chain’s portfolio of restaurants.
Following increasingly rapid adoption from Sri Lanka’s tier-one merchants, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is also coming on-board to offer guests at the restaurants of the hotels: Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Cinnamon Grand Colombo with the convenience of contactless payments via QR codes. HNB DGM Retail & SME Banking Sanjay Wijemanne, HNB Head of Digital Business, Chammika Weerasinghe, HNB Senior Manager- Business Development- Piyakara Jayaratne, HNB Digital Pay Products Executive Ishan Karannagoda, HNB Lead – Product Management SOLO, Harold Elanco and the General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo and Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, John Keells Group Vice President, Kamal Munasinghe, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Vice President- Finance, Shanaka Silva and Cinnamon Grand Colombo Head of IT Shiran Tissera graced the ceremony held to launch the facility at Cinnamon Grand Colombo
“It is imperative that we continue embracing digital payments across all industries in Sri Lanka. The pandemic may have driven the initial conversion to QR based payments, but we are now seeing a new wave of customers who are using the facility for the convenience and reliability it offers across QR enabled platforms like HNB SOLO, which are gaining rapid traction and are a must-have among customers. Our robust tech infrastructure places us in a unique position to lead this expansion and we are delighted to enter the tourism sector with a partner as prestigious as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts,” HNB DGM Retail & SME Banking Sanjay Wijemanne said.
Notably, customers have the option of completing a transaction by scanning the Dynamic QR code, a unique QR code generated for the transaction. This allows customers using an app linked with the LANKAQR initiative to make contactless purchases at stores by simply scanning the Dynamic QR, which appears on the display screen of the Point of Sale (PoS) machine.
The facility is also beneficial to merchants as the integration of HNB’s system with the merchant’s cash PoS results in real-time confirmation of the purchase credited to the merchant’s account for JustPay transactions. Additionally, the transaction fee that the merchants are levied for using the ‘LANKAQR’ platform under Just Pay transactions is significantly lower.
Moreover, the partnership will enable all Sri Lankans, including customers of other banks, to complete transactions seamlessly at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
“The past two years have been a trying time for the tourism industry and the whole nation. But we are fortunate to finally see a gradual recovery take hold. In order to help the industry bounce back, we must be ready to change and adapt much more rapidly than ever before. The addition of digital payment solutions brings an added level of comfort, convenience and safety for our guests. We also hope that our launch of QR payments will add further momentum to the expansion of digital payments across the formal and informal tourism and hospitality sector, which will create even greater value for our guests. We look forward to working closely with HNB to leverage their tech expertise to make the lives of our customers easier and better,” Cinnamon Grand Colombo and Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo General Manager, John Keells Group Vice President, Kamal Munasinghe said.
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.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
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