New Delhi, March 17: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India, said it is strengthening the acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across Sri Lanka to enable seamless digital payments for Indian tourists and support the island nation’s digital economy.
The initiative integrates UPI with LankaQR, operated by LankaPay, allowing Indian users to scan local QR codes using UPI-enabled apps. The move reduces reliance on cash while expanding digital payment options at hospitality chains, retail outlets, and supermarkets across the country.
India remains the largest source market for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. More than 4.16 lakh Indian visitors travelled to the country in 2024, rising to 5.31 lakh in 2025, driving demand for convenient payment solutions for travel, shopping, weddings, and spiritual tourism.
To expand adoption, NIPL is collaborating with stakeholders including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, acquiring banks, and merchants to align with the country’s domestic payment framework.
According to NIPL, the initiative will benefit both travellers and businesses by enabling real-time payments with transparent exchange rates while helping merchants access a growing base of digital customers and improve cash management.
Ritesh Shukla, MD and CEO of NPCI International, said the company is focused on building interoperable payment corridors to simplify cross-border transactions and deepen economic ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Recognised by the International Monetary Fund as the world’s largest real-time payment system, UPI accounts for nearly half of global instant payment transactions and is expected to strengthen cross-border trade and tourism-driven economic engagement between the two countries.
