Colombo, April 12 – In a significant advancement toward a digital and cashless Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Digital Economy, in partnership with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), has launched a card payment system at highway toll gates, beginning with a pilot at the Kottawa and Kadawatha interchanges on the Southern Expressway.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s transport infrastructure and support the national digital transformation agenda. Commuters can now pay tolls using international and local cards, including Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay International (UPI), LankaPay–JCB, and American Express (Amex).
HNB, acting as the Point of Sale (POS) system provider, has implemented the necessary infrastructure to support seamless and secure transactions at the toll gates. Importantly, the system is bank-agnostic, allowing cardholders from any issuing bank to use the service.
“This move reflects our commitment to building a digitally inclusive economy,” the Ministry stated, noting that the project brings real-time digital payments into everyday use, making travel faster, easier, and more secure for the public.
Following the successful pilot, the card payment system will be rolled out to all highway toll gates nationwide starting in May, significantly expanding public access to modern payment technologies.
The initiative underscores the government’s dedication to promoting digital inclusion, enhancing public convenience, and modernizing public infrastructure through technological innovation.
