Sampath Bank leads National Transport Modernisation through New Digital Fare System

The Minister of Transport, Bimal Rathnayake, issues an electronic ticket to a traveller, while Sanjaya Gunawardana, Managing Director/CEO, Sampath Bank and Nikitha Grero, Chairman of NCG Express, look on

From left: Chirath Samarasekara, Head of Card Centre, Sampath Bank; Darshin Pathinayake, Assistant General Manager – Advanced Analytics & Card Centre, Sampath Bank; Sanjaya Gunawardana, Managing Director/CEO, Sampath Bank; Nikitha Grero, Chairman, NCG Express; Amila Ranmadala, General Manager, NCG Speed Holdings; and Guyanga Weerasekara, Senior Manager – Projects, NCG Speed Holdings

Sampath Bank PLC is advancing a major national milestone through the commencement of the pilot phase of Sri Lanka’s Bus Fare Digitalisation Project, implemented in collaboration with Ceylon Business Appliances (Pvt) Ltd and Nimbus Venture (Pvt) Ltd. 
The solution is being introduced through NCG Express, one of the country’s leading private bus operators, enabling commuters to make seamless digital fare payments and supporting the nation’s transition towards a modern transport environment.
The initiative delivers a fully integrated digital fare collection system that allows passengers to settle fares through contactless bank cards supported by Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB enhancing convenience, strengthening payment security and contributing to a more efficient and transparent commuter experience. The pilot phase aims to validate operational readiness ahead of wider expansion across private and public bus fleets.
Commenting on this landmark initiative, Darshin Pathinayake, Assistant General Manager – Advanced Analytics and Card Centre, Sampath Bank PLC stated, “This initiative reflects our long-standing commitment to advancing national digital progress, as it enhances commuter convenience, strengthens fare collection efficiency and supports Sri Lanka’s journey towards a secure and inclusive cashless transport ecosystem.”
The project has been developed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation on bus fare collection using bank cards, ensuring alignment with the Government’s priority of establishing a bank-led and interoperable digital payment infrastructure for the public transport sector.
As the certified Ticketing Application and Electronic Ticket Issuing Machine (ETIM) provider, Ceylon Business Appliances strengthens the reliability of the system through robust hardware and secure software capabilities built on more than five decades of Payments and FinTech expertise.