Colombo / Tokyo, Oct 9, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) - LankaClear (Private) Limited (LankaClear) - the operator of LankaPay,
Sri Lanka's National Payment Network, together with JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations
subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., announced the commercial roll-out of National Card Scheme (NCS) programme of Sri Lanka,
after successfully completing the pilot stage since the announcement of the strategic partnership in June 2017. With the
commercial roll-out of NCS programme, LankaPay/JCB co-badged payment cards are now accepted at ATMs and merchants on JCB
network, globally. This partnership has also enabled JCB cardholders worldwide to use their cards at ATMs and POS
terminals within Sri Lanka.
Under the NCS programme, MCB Bank, Regional Development Bank, HDFC Bank of Sri Lanka, Siyapatha Finance, Sampath Bank
and many more banks will issue EMV enabled LankaPay/JCB co-badged cards. This marks the first ever JCB branded card
issued in Sri Lanka.
In the commercial roll-out announcement held during the LankaPay Technovation Awards 2019, Mr. Channa de Silva, General
Manager/CEO, LankaClear, said, "This partnership between LankaClear and JCBI is intended to help Sri Lanka to have its
own National Card Scheme (NCS) adhering to the highest international standards. LankaPay/JCB cards will follow the same
EMVCo standards in terms of technology and security. This would result in lower transaction costs for both banks and
merchants in Sri Lanka when facilitating payments via NCS cards issued by the banks. Sri Lankan cardholders could also
benefit from the payment experience at JCB merchants outside Sri Lanka, as well as entitle to various international
services and promotions offered by JCBI."
Mr. Kimihisa Imada, President and COO, JCB International Co., Ltd. said, "We are very pleased and honoured to have the
very first JCB cards in Sri Lanka collaborated with the national payment network, LankaPay. As Sri Lanka is one of the
most attractive tourist destination countries in the world, especially for the travellers from other JCB card issued
countries such as India, JCB appreciates LankaClear and LankaPay member banks for the strongest and continuous effort so
far and ongoing to enable JCB acceptance at local ATMs and merchants. JCB keeps supporting LankaPay network with our
payment technology for secure transactions locally and globally, and with our unique international brand services to
enrich the customer experience of LankaPay/JCB Card members. We also look forward to seeing further achievement in the
card product development area in the near future".
About LankaClear
Incorporated in February 2002 as the "National Cheque Clearing House", today, LankaClear has expanded its service
offering to be the "National Payment Network" for the country. Owned by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and all
Licensed Commercial Banks operating in Sri Lanka, the company boasts of multiple solution offerings not only for the
banking sector but also across all industries that are ready and willing to adopt/integrate to the latest digital
technologies driving Sri Lanka toward an efficient, green, and paperless nation.
In an era where electronic payment modes are gaining popularity worldwide, we at LankaClear have set the foundation and
platforms in moving Sri Lanka to a cashless society with paperless offices. As the catalyst of change in the Sri Lankan
Payment Industry, the company has continuously strived to maintain the highest standards of efficiency and security in
catering to this emerging market needs. The LankaSign Certification Service Provider (CSP) implemented by LankaClear
provides the much needed security for the electronic payment systems and is currently the only commercially operated CSP
in the country.
LankaClear has introduced many ground breaking products, some of which have been first in the South Asian Region. Our
committed and dynamic team of professionals, with global exposure brings in the expertise in driving the technology
footprint and the service delivery at LankaClear. For more information, visit: http://www.lankaclear.com/