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India’s PhonePe unveils UPI payment in partnership with LankaPay

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LankaPay – Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network on Wednesday announced its partnership with PhonePe – one of India’s most popular fintech apps – towards accepting UPI payments at LankaQR merchant points.

The launch was graced by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha who highlighted the key role played by fintech connectivity in the overall connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. Addressing the gathering, Guest of Honour Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, acknowledged the collaboration’s capacity to unlock new opportunities and enhance competitiveness and the benefits that it would bring to Sri Lankan merchants.

PhonePe International Payments CEO Ritesh Pai said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with LankaPay. This collaboration offers unparalleled convenience to Indian tourists who can now use a familiar and secure payment method while traveling and pay across LankaQR merchant points. PhonePe has always been at the forefront of driving innovation in payments. We are incredibly proud to be driving UPI adaptation across India, and our expansion to Sri Lanka is another exciting step forward.”

LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva CEO said: “LankaPay is delighted to collaborate with PhonePe to revolutionise the cross-border payments between Sri Lanka and India. This partnership is bound to provide greater convenience to Indian tourists and business travelers in making seamless UPI payments at all LankaQR merchant points in Sri Lanka via PhonePe app. We are excited about the potential of this collaboration that would enhance payment experience to Indian tourists and business travellers during their stay in Sri Lanka and also provide the merchants with a cost-effective proposition to card payments. I envisage that innovation to be the cornerstone of this alliance and would lead to further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.”

At the launch, de Silva also made an insightful presentation, giving a snapshot of Sri Lanka’s digital payment landscape followed by an insightful panel discussion on ‘The Future of Digital Payments in Sri Lanka: Opportunities for Sri Lankan Businesses,’ which focused on the possibilities and growth avenues for local businesses.

The session featured National Savings Bank GM/CEO Shashi Kandambi, Hatton National Bank PLC COO Sanjay Wijemanne, LOLC Finance PLC Chairman Conrad Dias, and Dialog Finance PLC Chairperson Renuka Fernando, who discussed how businesses can leverage digital payment technologies and tap into a wider market to stay competitive in an evolving economic landscape. The session was moderated by LankaPay CEO de Silva.

Following the panel discussion, PhonePe International Payments CEO Ritesh Pai unveiled insights on leveraging UPI for global markets and the growth prospects it offers for merchants.

The event also saw the presence of several key stakeholders from the Sri Lankan financial landscape, including senior representatives from banking sectors, payment system providers, and representatives from tourism sector and business associations. This alliance is facilitated through LankaPay’s partnership with NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL).

During the event, PhonePe announced that its app users travelling to Sri Lanka can now make payments using UPI across LankaPayQR merchants nationwide. Users can simply scan LankaQR code to make secure and quick payments without carrying cash or calculating currency conversions. Their account will be debited in INR, showing the currency exchange rate. These transactions are facilitated by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and LankaPay National Payment Network.

PhonePe Group is India’s leading fintech company. Its flagship product, the PhonePe digital payments app, was launched in Aug 2016. In just seven years, the company has scaled rapidly to become India’s leading consumer payments app with over 520 million registered users and a digital payments acceptance network of 38 million merchants. PhonePe also processes 230+ million daily transactions with an annualised Total Payment Value (TPV) of $ 1.5+ trillion.

On the back of its leadership in digital payments, PhonePe Group has expanded into financial services (Insurance, Lending, Wealth) as well as new consumer tech businesses (Pincode – hyperlocal e-commerce and Indus App Store – India’s first localised App Store). PhonePe Group is an India headquartered technology company with a portfolio of businesses aligned with the company’s vision to offer every Indian an equal opportunity to accelerate their progress by unlocking the flow of money and access to services.

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LUXN (Pvt) Ltd Marks 4 Years of Transforming Professional Networking in Sri Lanka

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LUXN (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s leading NFC-based solution provider, celebrates four years of innovation and growth this October. Since launching Sri Lanka’s first NFC-powered Smart Business Card in 2021, LUXN has transformed how professionals and corporates connect – offering seamless, app-free, and eco-friendly digital networking.

Over the years, LUXN has empowered more than 25,000 professionals and 50+ leading corporates, including DFCC Bank, Prime Group, Toyota Lanka, City of Dreams, and Cinnamon Hotels, positioning itself as a key player in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation journey.

Beyond its flagship product, the company has introduced several NFC-powered innovations, including LUXN Reviewy, a customer feedback solution now used by brands such as Barista, Celsius Bedding, and Kangaroo Cabs. In 2024, LUXN further expanded with the launch of LUXN IT, a subsidiary specializing in custom software, web, mobile, and IoT solutions.

Co-founded by Sahan Muramudalige (CEO), Limashi Karunasekara (COO), and Kalhara Gunawardhana (CTO), LUXN continues to pioneer smart, connected, and sustainable technology solutions, driving Sri Lanka toward a more digitally empowered future.

While LUXN was officially incorporated as a private limited company in April 2023, the company proudly recognizes October 23, 2021, as its true founding date marking the moment its flagship product transformed from concept to reality and began reshaping Sri Lanka’s digital networking landscape.

Today, LUXN remains committed to its founding vision to empower people and businesses through smart, connected, and sustainable technology paving the way for a new era of innovation and digital progress in Sri Lanka.

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Ceylon Tea Sets Guinness World Record

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Sri Lanka has secured a place in the Guinness World Records after the New Vithanakande Tea Factory was officially recognized for producing the world’s most expensive tea.

The milestone was achieved with its premium Ceylon Black Tea (FFExSp), which sold in Japan for Rs. 252,500 per kilogram (around ¥125,000).

Industry experts noted that this accomplishment underscores the global appeal of high-quality Ceylon tea while boosting Sri Lanka’s image in the luxury tea market.

New Vithanakande is already renowned for setting record-breaking auction prices, especially for its OP1 grade, but this latest achievement marks a new era in branding Ceylon tea at the highest international level.

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From Muddy Paths to Mountain Views: The Story of the Pekoe Trail

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Arjuna Samarakoon and team pictured at the completion of the Pekoe Trail

Arjuna Nayanka Samarakoon, better known as Arj Samarakoon, has built a reputation as an investor, reform advocate, and philanthropist. For him, Sri Lanka’s most ambitious long-distance walking route, the Pekoe Trail, is not simply a path through the hills but a reminder of how persistence and preparation shape both journeys and reforms.

The Trail as a Teacher

In his Pekoe Trail Guide, Samarakoon reflects on the lessons he drew from the experience. Keeping a light pack, setting a steady pace, and learning to embrace discomfort all became reminders that progress comes step by step. He often describes how conversations with villagers along the way were just as meaningful as the sweeping views, a reminder that development is most powerful when it connects people.

A Shared Journey for Communities

As highlighted in the Daily Mirror Feature the Pekoe Trail offers more than scenery. It creates opportunities for communities across the central highlands, from tea estate workers to small guesthouse owners. Samarakoon has consistently stressed that reform is not only about policy but about real benefits for families and villages who carry Sri Lanka forward every day.

500K Steps of Endurance

The The Financial Times reports that the Pekoe Trail is now the focus of the 500K Steps campaign, aiming to raise LKR 20 million for conservation and community development. For Samarakoon, joining this effort is both personal and symbolic. Every kilometre walked represents the persistence needed to reform systems, rebuild credibility, and create opportunities.

Reform as a Long Walk

Samarakoon often frames reform as scaffolding, delivery as the building, and competitiveness as the stage where people choose to live and invest. In many ways, the Pekoe Trail reflects the same truth. It is not conquered in one stride, but by consistent steps, preparation, and resilience.

Looking Ahead

By sharing his experience on the Pekoe Trail and supporting the 500K Steps campaign, Arjuna Nayanka Samarakoon highlights that Sri Lanka’s future will not be built overnight. It will take the same qualities the trail demands — endurance, patience, and a willingness to walk together. His message is simple but powerful: progress begins when people commit to the journey, one step at a time.

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