Nations Trust Bank announced its partnership with the Road Development Authority (RDA) at the recently held nationwide rollout of QR based solutions.

The national campaign, initiated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)to boost digital payments across the country, was inaugurated by Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip, Johnston Fernando, Minister of Sports, Digital Technology and Entrepreneur Development, Namal Rajapaksa and CBSL Governor, Nivard Cabraal, and other ministers and dignitaries. 

Theacceptance of contactless LANKAQR payments at the Manual Toll Collection (MTC) gates on the expressway is facilitated through FriMi together with CBSL and LankaPay to support a digitalized Sri Lanka in partnership with the Road Development Authority (RDA).

This initiative will further strengthen the importance of an efficient and secure payments and settlement system for Sri Lankans to enjoy the benefits of digital and contactless payments.

Commenting on the State coming together with the banking sector to popularise digital payments in Sri Lanka was Minister Johnston Fernando. 

“It is important for us as Sri Lankans to adapt to more progressive practices and systems in order to move forward as a country, and we are extremely happy that the Ministry of Highways and the RDA has taken the lead in this initiative by facilitating digital payments. 

The partnership with LANKAQR platform through CBSL, Lanka Clear and FriMi will allow the general public to experience the convenience and effortlessness of using cashless payments when traveling on the expressway, while ensuring an efficient and secure payments and settlement system for the Ministry of Highways and the RDAas a whole.”

Minister Namal Rajapaksa said, “This is indeed a milestone, as we witness the enabling of contactless and cashless payment acceptance via LANKAQR at expressway tollgates. This shows the level of success that we can expect in the future with the ongoing digitalisation drive and the adoption of digital technology in Sri Lanka.”
CBSL Governor Cabraal too shared this sentiment where he disclosed, “The contactless payment acceptance at expressways is one of the many activities that have been planned under the nationwide rollout of LANKAQR and this initiative will undoubtedly pave the way for a digital economy and a less cash society.”

LANKAQR is a digital payment solution that allows customers to make contactless payments directly to accounts of merchants or service providers, using any LANKAQR enabled payment app by any bank, financial institution, mobile service provider or any other partner. 

Encouraging the public to make use of this opportunity, Assistant Governor of CBSL, Dharmasri Kumaratunge added, “This project is one of the key milestones in the nationwide LANKAQR rollout initiative and we encourage the public to take the step to pay toll fees at expressway exits through any LANKAQR enabled apps and get to experience the convenience of contactless payments.”

“Nations Trust Bank has always been at the forefront of revolutionising the country’s banking sector and encouraging the behaviour of contactless payments, especially through FriMi. 
We are privileged to have had the opportunity to facilitate this project with CBSL and RDA to support this rollout. As a Bank, we want digital banking to go beyond being transactional – we want to build a digital integrated financial ecosystem that creates value for everyone. 

FriMi enabling LANKAQR contactless payments at the expressway tollgates together with CBSL and LankaClear is a massive milestone for digital banking and our country, in the journey towards a fully digital economy.” said Priyantha Talwatte, CEO and Director of Nations Trust Bank.