“Turning New Year transactions into QR payments will be a turning point” - President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the need for officials to encourage society to adopt efficient practices. He spoke at the launch of the “National QR Payment Promotion Programme,” which represents a key advancement in Sri Lanka's digital economy. The President stressed that the country should move towards digital transactions to solve various complex social issues. His goal is to shift the informal economy into a formal one. The government also aims to develop a $15 billion digital economy through comprehensive digitalization efforts. He pointed out that while people in Sri Lanka have a strong culture of transactions, the government needs to effectively promote these new systems. “When we think of QR codes, we often associate them with fuel rationing. When QR codes were mentioned for fertilizer distribution, many believed it was a way to reduce fertilizer subsidies. As a result, QR codes have become a symbol of restriction. If we apply them to regular transactions, people might view it as another limitation. Thus, a dedicated educational program is crucial,” the President noted. He expressed optimism that the measures taken would quickly encourage QR-based transactions throughout the country. He emphasized that banks and financial institutions have a key role to play in this process. “Many financial companies are preparing advertisements for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. If we can use this occasion to shift New Year transactions to QR-code payments, it would be a major turning point. People will then be more likely to accept it. Our society is open to new ideas, but if the innovation isn’t appealing or easy to use, people will hesitate to adopt it,” he concluded.