HNB – Singer Sri Lanka partnership accelerates digitalisation of payment ecosystem

Pioneering the nation’s evolution in cashless and contactless payments, HNB PLC, partnered with Singer Sri Lanka to launch the Dynamic QR facility for the latter’s PoS (Point of Sales) terminals across the island.

Joining a list of growing tier-one merchants adopting the new technology, Singer will now offer its customers the facility of making a direct payment for their goods via Dynamic QR, in which a unique code is generated for each transaction. Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal graced the ceremony held to launch the facility together with CBSL Assistant Governor, Dharmasiri Kumarathunga,HNB Managing Director /CEO, Jonathan Alles, Singer Sri Lanka Chairman Mohan Pandithage, Singer Group CEO/ Director Mahesh Wijewardene and Singer Board Director Sarath Ganegoda.

“It is imperative that we make digital payments fast, effective, easy and secure in order to maintain the momentum we have built up to now in Sri Lanka’s digitalization journey across all spheres of the economy. The Dynamic QR code facility is the next step in our journey, and we are delighted to see these bold new initiatives supported by the banking industry,” CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said, addressing the gathering.

The new tech eliminates the need to manually enter the payment value, increasing customer convenience and avoiding errors. 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.

“Even though the pandemic drove the initial conversion to QR based payments, we have experienced a new wave of customers coming on board for the added convenience and reliability offered by platforms like HNB SOLO. Digital wallets connected to LANKAQR have opened up new market segments which are rapidly gaining traction. HNB is uniquely positioned to drive this expansion given our robust tech infrastructure. Dynamic QR is another milestone in our digital transformation journey, and we are delighted to launch this partnership with an organization of the caliber of Singer Sri Lanka with the patronage of the CBSL,” HNB Managing Director /CEO Jonathan Alles said.

“The challenging conditions brought on by the pandemic has tested us all in unique ways, and each of us has had to find ways to adapt to the new normal. As Sri Lanka’s undisputed leader in consumer durables, we understand the value of providing our customers with every convenience possible. The addition of Dynamic QR codes represents the latest in a long series of innovations introduced by Singer, that leverage technology in order to make the lives of our customers easier and better,” Singer Sri Lanka Chairman Mohan Pandithage said.