WU partners with MMBL Money Master to assist cash transfers from SL to world

Monday, 25 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Western Union South Asia and Indo-China Regional Vice President Sohini Rajola (left)and MMBL Money Transfer Managing Director Dinesh Mendis at the launch

By Divya Thotawatte

In collaboration with MMBL Money Master, Western Union (WU) is set to launch international money transfers from Sri Lanka to the world for international citizens working in the country.

It is the first time that Western Union outbound international money transfers have been made available to international workers or expatriates in Sri Lanka through 69 MMBL Money Master locations across 35 cities and 17 districts, including Ampara, Batticaloa, Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kandy, and Kegalle.

Officials said the services would be progressively extended island-wide while allowing customers to send up to $ 500 per month to a bank account, or for cash pick-up in minutes at more than half a million walk-in agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

Speaking at a media conference recently, WU South Asia and Indo-China Regional Vice President Sohini Rajola said: “At Western Union, we’ve constantly learnt, innovated and transformed our services to the needs of the customer to be able to realise our vision which is to be the leader in cross-border, cross-currency movement. We believe that Sri Lanka is gaining momentum in industrial and economic growth. With all the human and capital investment that the country is attracting, I think it’s the right time for Western Union to participate and contribute towards this progress and growth phase that Sri Lanka is in.”

She added that there are more than 250 million individuals across the world who live and work in countries outside of the one that they were born in and they are an extremely large force in terms of their contribution to the economies, both of the country they work for and also back home where they end up sending money to.

She said that Western Union was proud to be able to partner with and support these citizens who are empowering globalism by connecting their money for them.

Full activation of more than 2,000 MMBL Money Master locations will provide international citizens living and working in Sri Lanka island-wide access to send money abroad. They will be able to fund a host of expenses from sending money back to their home countries to providing funds to loved ones for international education, medical services, travel, and goods and services.

MMBL Money Transfer Managing Director Dinesh Mendis said: “We are proud to be the first non-bank entity, together with WU, to be approved to send remittances out of Sri Lanka. The launch is an important milestone for both our organisations as it marks a step forward in supporting Sri Lanka’s quest to grow in infrastructure and economic prosperity.”

Pix by Indraratna Balasuriya