Ant International, the global digital payment platform, has partnered with LankaPay, Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network, to introduce cross-border mobile payments for Alipay+ partner users via the LANKAQR network. This collaboration enhances the connection between global consumers and Sri Lankan merchants, allowing seamless payments for international travelers.
In a statement released on Thursday, the two companies announced that Alipay+, a unified wallet gateway offering cross-border payment and digitization services, will enable 14 of its international payment partners to be used across Sri Lanka. Travelers from 10 countries and regions can now scan the LANKAQR at over 400,000 merchants to make payments.
The first phase of Alipay+ cross-border payment acceptance in Sri Lanka includes partners such as Alipay (China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong), MPay (Macau), Hipay (Mongolia), GCash (the Philippines), Changi Pay and OCBC Digital (Singapore), Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), Naver Pay and Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand), BigPay (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand), and Tinaba (Italy).
This launch marks the largest acceptance of cross-border payments in Sri Lanka, including key markets identified by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), such as Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea, and Thailand. With this collaboration, travelers can use their preferred mobile payment app, offering both convenience for customers and increased business for local merchants.
SLTDA statistics show that Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has seen significant growth, with a 38% increase in visitor arrivals in 2024 compared to the previous year. The country is targeting 3 million tourist arrivals and $5 billion in tourism revenue for 2025.
Channa de Silva, CEO of LankaPay, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “This collaboration connects international Alipay+ users, allowing them to make seamless payments during their visit to Sri Lanka, just like they would at home. Our aim is to enhance payment convenience for tourists and attract essential foreign exchange into the country.”
LANKAQR, a national initiative introduced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2020, standardizes and makes QR code-based transactions interoperable across the country. Managed by LankaPay, the LANKAQR network connects consumers, banks, and merchants in Sri Lanka into a unified payment platform.
Edward Yue, General Manager for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand at Ant International, noted that the LANKAQR infrastructure provides a solid foundation for digitalizing local businesses. He further emphasized that tourism would play a significant role in the global economy, with Sri Lanka benefiting from travelers seeking unique cultural and nature experiences.
Ant International and LankaPay also plan to expand the acceptance of more Alipay+ partner e-wallets in Sri Lanka and collaborate on joint marketing initiatives to further support the digital transformation of the country’s tourism sector.
