LankaPay launched cross border QR payments acceptance via Weixin Pay at LANKAQR merchants

From left: LankaPay Senior Manager – Global Operations Harsha de Silva, Deputy CEO Dinuka Perera, CEO Channa de Silva, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam,  Weixin Pay Country Manager David Chong,  Senior Manager Laura Wang and Senior Manager Calvin Thye 

LankaPay, Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network, recently announced its partnership with Weixin Pay (popularly known as WeChat Pay)  to enable cross border QR payment acceptance at LANKAQR merchants at a launch held at NH Collection, Colombo.

Through this collaboration, Weixin Pay customers travelling to Sri Lanka will be able to seamlessly scan and pay at over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants island wide, significantly enhancing Sri Lanka’s cross-border digital payment capabilities. The initiative is expected to improve payment convenience for inbound tourists and business travelers while supporting the growth of the country’s tourism sector.

Weixin Pay, one of the world’s leading mobile payment platforms, is widely used by the Chinese mainland travelers. With this integration, tourists using Weixin Pay will be able to pay conveniently during their visit in Sri Lanka, enabling the same the payment experience as they are used to in their home country.

This development represents a further step in LankaPay’s ongoing efforts to strengthen interoperability and expand access to globally recognised digital payment solutions. By connecting international mobile payment platforms to the LANKAQR network, LankaPay continues to enhance the accessibility, efficiency, and inclusiveness of Sri Lanka’s digital payment ecosystem whilst helping to develop the tourism sector in the country. The introduction of globally accepted payment methods is expected to further enhance the overall visitor experience while facilitating greater foreign exchange inflows. Furthermore, it will encourage micro and small merchants operating in the tourism industry to integrate into the growing digital payment ecosystem, which in turn will foster financial inclusivity and some of the inherent problems faced by these micro and small businesses in accessing finance and resultant socio-economic issues. 

LankaPay Chief Executive Officer Channa de Silva said: “We are extremely pleased to enable Weixin Pay acceptance in Sri Lanka. This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to providing secure, seamless, and internationally interoperable payment solutions. By connecting global travelers with Sri Lanka’s LANKAQR network, we aim to enhance payment convenience while supporting local merchants and contributing to the broader growth of the economy.”

Weixin Pay’s Managing Director for Southeast Asia and North America Ben Yang said: “We are delighted to collaborate with LankaPay to introduce Weixin Pay in Sri Lanka. As China’s outbound travel continues to expand, the availability of familiar and convenient payment options is increasingly important. This partnership will enable travellers to transact seamlessly while offering local businesses new opportunities to engage with global customers.”

LANKAQR, introduced under the guidance of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, ensures that all QR-based transactions in the country are standardised and interoperable complying with international EMVCo standards. Operated by LankaPay, the network connects banks, financial institutions, merchants, and consumers onto a single platform, facilitating secure and efficient digital payments nationwide.

With the launch of Weixin Pay acceptance, LankaPay further strengthens its position as a key enabler of Sri Lanka’s digital payment infrastructure and continues to drive innovation in support of the country’s evolving digital economy.