LankaPay, the operator of the Country’s National Payment Network recently organized LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2023 at the Shangri-la, Hotel Colombo for the fifth consecutive year. This is Sri Lanka’s first and the only Payment Technology Innovation Awards. Initiated with the objective of recognizing the trailblazers of the country’s payment technology innovations, who steadfast to the cause of providing excellence and convenience by promoting digital payments, the event was witnessed by over 400 guests from Banks, Non-banking Financial Institutions, FinTechs, policy makers and top government officials etc.
The awards ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest. The Keynote Speaker was Mr. Neal Cross who is the former Managing Director and Chief Innovation Officer of DBS Bank, Singapore popularly known as the World’s Best Digital Bank. He is also a serial startup entrepreneur where he is the Co-Founder of PictureWealth and Non-Executive Director – Peppermint Innovation.
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC bagged the pinnacle of all awards by winning the Overall Gold Award for “Excellence in Interbank Digital Payments” under the “Banking Institutions” category while Bank of Ceylon claiming the Overall Silver Award. Sampath Bank PLC was adjured the Overall Bronze Award Winner while Peoples’ Bank bagged the Overall Merit Award. Under the “Non-Bank Financial Institutions” category, LOLC Finance PLC was crowned as the Overall Gold for “Excellence in Interbank Digital Payments” for the fourth consecutive year while Dialog Finance PLC making its way to become the Overall Silver Award winner for the first time.
Altogether 35 awards under 11 categories were on offer at this year’s awards and the Gold Award winners were;
Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience – Category A: Hatton National Bank PLC; Category B: Cargills Bank Limited; Category C: National Savings Bank
Non-Bank Financial Institution of the Year for Customer Convenience – LOLC Finance PLC
Best Common ATM Acquirer of the Year – Category A: People’s Bank; Category B: Sampath Bank PLC; Category C: Amana Bank PLC
Bank of the Year for Financial Inclusivity – Category A: Bank of Ceylon; Category B: Nations Trust Bank PLC; Category C: Cargills Bank Ltd
Non-Bank Financial Institution of the Year for Financial Inclusivity – LOLC Finance PLC
Most Innovative Bank of the Year – Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
Most Popular Digital Payment Product: Banking & Financial Institutions category (Internet Banking)– People’s Bank (Product: People’s Wave)
Most Popular Digital Payment Product: Banking & Financial Institutions category (Mobile Payment Apps)– Bank of Ceylon (Product: Smart Pay)
Most Popular Digital Payment Product: Fintech category – Bhasha Lanka Private Ltd (Helapay)
Best Bank for Retail Payments – Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions) – LOLC Finance PLC (iPay)
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (FinTech) – Pay Master Solutions Pvt ltd (Pay Master)
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via LankaQR (Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions) – Commercial Bank of Ceylon (Com Bank Q+)
Best Acquirer on LankaPay Online Payment Platform – Bank of Ceylon
Best LankaPay Card Implementer of the Year – Regional Development Bank
Financial Institution of the Year for Best Digital Payment Strategy – Sampath Bank PLC
During the year 2021/22 alone, LankaPay empowered Sri Lankans from all walks of life across Sri Lanka to carry out a multitude of digital financial transactions amounting to a staggering Rs. 18 trillion via over 200 million number of transactions conveniently and securely from anywhere at any time. This would not have been possible if not for the banks, non-banking financial institutions and FinTechs who made customer convenience their priority. LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2023 was a tribute to those who were leading the pack in customer convenience via payment technology innovations.
Picture caption : – Overall Winners