📍 Colombo, Sri Lanka – September 17, 2025
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has taken a bold step into the digital era by officially joining GovPay, the national digital payment platform. This move marks a major milestone in making Sri Lanka’s tourism industry faster, smarter, and more transparent.
With GovPay, tourism operators can now settle the Tourism Development Levy (TDL) — including late or under-payments — through their bank’s internet or mobile apps, or even through popular FinTech apps. Currently, 14 leading banks and 6 fintech apps are already connected to GovPay, making the system easily accessible across the country.
✨ Why This Matters for Tourism
Tourism plays a central role in Sri Lanka’s economic revival. By adopting GovPay, SLTDA reduces red tape, minimizes delays, and ensures smoother business operations for stakeholders. More importantly, this move supports the government’s vision of positioning Sri Lanka as a world-class, digitally powered tourist destination.
💡 What’s Next?
- The first phase focuses on TDL payments.
- Future expansions will cover other key payments and services.
- The initiative is part of a larger government effort to build a cashless, digitally inclusive society.
đź”’ Backed by LankaPay and ICTA, GovPay is built with state-of-the-art security, guaranteeing safe and efficient transactions. Since its launch in February 2025, GovPay has already handled payments for over 1,700 government services, with transaction volumes crossing Rs. 110 million.
Voices Behind the Change
- Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of SLTDA, highlighted that this shift will not only boost efficiency but also make Sri Lanka a more attractive destination for investors and visitors.
- Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, praised SLTDA’s leadership in embracing cashless operations.
- Channa de Silva, CEO of LankaPay, emphasized the importance of secure, convenient, and inclusive digital payments in shaping Sri Lanka’s future economy.
👉 This collaboration between SLTDA, LankaPay, and ICTA is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can drive real change, bringing Sri Lanka’s tourism sector in line with global digital trends.
Photo Credits: SLTDA / Facebook
