PayPal is set to launch in Sri Lanka on 15 May, in a move expected to expand formal digital payment channels, initially starting with business-to-business (B2B) payments to exporters.

According to sources, the initial rollout will focus on enabling inward payments to exporters, with several local banks already appointed as agents for the service.

While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources said the launch is currently scheduled for 15 May, with the Presidential Secretariat likely to host the event.

Banking sector officials have already participated in familiarisation sessions relating to PayPal’s entry into Sri Lanka, while PayPal representatives are understood to have visited the country last month for discussions with local stakeholders and financial institutions regarding the rollout framework.

The move follows months of engagement between the Government, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and the private sector, aimed at enabling regulated inward remittance functionality through the global online payments platform.

In February, Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said Sri Lanka had entered the final stage of enabling inward remittances through PayPal, describing it as a key milestone in modernising the country’s digital payments ecosystem.

Sri Lanka has launched a pilot programme to enable online seat reservations for long-distance bus travel, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced today.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister said buses remain the most widely used mode of daily transport in the country, even surpassing trains in popularity. 

However, he noted that passengers currently face inconvenience as they must physically visit bus terminals to reserve seats, making travel planning difficult.

“This new system will allow passengers to reserve seats in advance and plan their journeys more efficiently. Our aim is to make daily life easier,” he said.

The initiative will initially be implemented through private bus operators, with plans to expand the service to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) at a later stage.

Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Mothilal De Silva stated that the platform was introduced ahead of the New Year holiday period in collaboration with several private sector partners.

The government is exploring the introduction of cable car facilities at Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), as part of broader efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure.

The proposal was discussed at a Tourism Task Force meeting held on Tuesday (28) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.

During the meeting, it was noted that long-standing requests have been made to introduce a cable car system in the Sri Pada area, and several other locations, including Kikiliyamana and Ella, have also been identified as potential sites for similar projects.

Conducting feasibility studies for these locations, obtaining the necessary preliminary approvals and examining the reports required for implementation was focused on during the meeting.

Moreover, the meeting also reviewed plans to introduce a visa-free facility for citizens of 40 countries from May 25, a move expected to boost tourist arrivals.

Progress on improving sanitation facilities in 19 national parks, including Yala, was also discussed, with authorities noting that maintenance responsibilities have been assigned to a private entity.

Plans to establish a dedicated tourist zone along the coastal stretch from Kollupitiya were also discussed, with expectations that the initiative could attract between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors.