Business
HNB partners with WEBXPAY to launch low-cost digital payment solutions for SMBs under Visa’s Acceptance Fast Track Program
Sri Lanka’s leading online payment gateway solution provider, WEBXPAY announced a landmark partnership with the nation’s leading private sector bank, HNB, to introduce affordable POS solutions to enable digital payments acceptance for Small and Medium Businesses (SMB), a company news release said on Friday. As part of the ongoing Visa Acceptance Fast Track programme that WEBXPAY entered recently, the partnership will enable WEBXPAY to increase the circulation of Point of Sale (POS) terminals to SMBs. At present it is estimated that 96,000 POS terminals are in circulation, it said.
It explained that through its ongoing efforts, WEBXPAY aims to increase circulation of POS devices rapidly over the next 5 years, with Soft POS terminals such as Tap to Phone, and other Android POS machines expected to play a pivotal role in expanding cashless payment acceptance to SMBs.
“WEBXPAY is proud to partner with a true pioneer in tech-enabled banking – HNB – in order to rapidly expand access to the latest generation of contactless payments to support the growth and development of Sri Lankan SMBs. Based on global experiences we have seen that contactless payments can increase their transactions by 4x, and encourage 2x higher spend. This can help them attract and retain new business at a very crucial time for the SMB sector,” said Omar Sahib, Founder & CEO, WEBXPAY.
In addition to low-cost POS machines, new solutions like Tap to Phone payments are expected to prove a game changer for SMBs, enabling vendors to almost instantly convert any smartphone into a payment acceptance device.
“Sri Lanka’s SMB sector serves as a backbone of our nation’s economy, accounting for the vast majority of employment in Sri Lanka, and yet they often lack the resources, tools and expertise to engage with digital payment solutions. HNB, WEBXPAY, and Visa are all united by a deep commitment to leveraging the power of technology and partnerships to radically enhance the competitiveness of SMBs, and we look forward to working in close collaboration to rollout contactless payments and novel Solution like Tap to Phone (Soft POS), to SMBs across the island in the coming months,” said Gauthami Niranjan, Head of Cards, HNB PLC.
Visa has long been committed to power the digitisation of small businesses in Sri Lanka. As part of the Acceptance Fast Track program, we are delighted to enable this partnership between WEBXPAY and HNB and further empower the SMB sector with digital payments. Through our Cybersource platform, we will help enable card present acceptance as well as provide merchants with the convenience of tap to phone.”, said Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Visa.WEBXPAY and Visa’s partnership with HNB represents the latest advancement in the Visa Acceptance Fast Track programme, which aims to empower small businesses to begin digital payment acceptance in a matter of seconds, thanks to new Visa solutions, onboarding processes and program participants.
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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