The public can now make payments using credit and debit cards at all Divisional Secretariat Offices in the Colombo District, marking a major milestone in the government’s digitalisation drive.
The new facility was officially launched at the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who ceremonially inaugurated POS machines at the Registrar’s Division and the Vehicle Revenue Licence Division.
The Prime Minister also witnessed the symbolic issuance of a birth certificate and a vehicle revenue licence using the new payment system.
Implemented under the guidance of the Colombo District Secretariat, with financial and technical support from the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), the initiative covers all 13 Divisional Secretariat Offices in the district. The system enables secure card payments for fee-based public services, reducing reliance on cash.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya said modernising Sri Lanka’s public sector in line with global digital transformation is a key government priority. She noted that the new system will help citizens access government services more efficiently through faster transactions, reduced fraud risks and greater transparency in revenue collection.
According to the government, the new POS payment system offers several benefits, including the convenience of cashless payments, quicker transaction processing, shorter waiting times, improved accountability through accurate revenue recording and greater adoption of digital payment technologies.