Mastercard strengthens digital payments ecosystem with two major launches

Thursday, 23 April 2026 05:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Payable Ltd., Co-Founder and CEO Yohan Wijesiriwardane, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Mastercard Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives Sandun Hapugoda and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC Head of Cards Seevali Wickramasinghe

New Soundbox and Cloud Commerce solutions make digital payments easier and more affordable for small businesses

Mastercard has announced the launch of two new payment solutions in Sri Lanka—Soundbox and Cloud Commerce—marking a major step forward in expanding access to simple, secure, and affordable digital payments for small enterprises.

Unveiled at the recent Access Unlocked Summit, the new solutions reiterate Mastercard’s commitment to helping merchants participate confidently in the country’s growing digital economy.

Developed in collaboration with Ceylon Business Appliances (CBA), Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Payable Ltd., and Hatton National Bank (HNB), Soundbox is a first for Sri Lanka and allows merchants to accept multiple payment types—including QR and card payments—using a single piece of equipment.

A compact, easy-to-use device, Soundbox delivers instant audio confirmation for every successful transaction, helping merchants verify payments in real time without slowing down their business. Designed with speed and simplicity in mind, the solution reduces checkout delays and removes the need for multiple payment machines.

Priced well below traditional point-of-sale (POS) devices, Soundbox is set to further accelerate digital payment acceptance among small businesses that have previously found POS infrastructure too costly or complex.

In a parallel launch, Mastercard and Payable Ltd., in collaboration with Commercial Bank of Ceylon, introduced the Cloud Commerce solution, with a live transaction demonstrated at the event.

With Mastercard Cloud Commerce, a merchant’s own NFC-enabled smartphone becomes a secure payment terminal—eliminating the need for dedicated hardware. The solution supports Tap and Go card payments and QR transactions, making it ideal for mobile businesses and merchants on the move.

Built for flexibility and scale, Cloud Commerce also offers multi-language support and digital transaction records, helping merchants manage payments efficiently in fast-paced environments. Together, these launches represent a significant milestone in Mastercard’s efforts to expand digital payment access and support financial inclusion in Sri Lanka.

Mastercard Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives Sandun Hapugoda said: “With the launch of Soundbox and Cloud Commerce, we are removing key barriers that have traditionally limited small businesses from adopting digital payments. By offering simple, affordable, and secure solutions that work with minimal hardware, we aim to enable merchants of all sizes to participate in Sri Lanka’s growing digital economy.”