PhonePe, India’s leading fintech company, has announced a strategic collaboration with PickMe, Sri Lanka’s foremost ride-hailing platform, to introduce seamless UPI-based QR payments for Indian travelers in Sri Lanka.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing the travel experience for Indian tourists by enabling cashless transactions from the moment they arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport.
Traveling abroad often entails the hassle of managing foreign currency and ensuring sufficient cash for various expenses.
By integrating PhonePe’s UPI-based QR payment system into the PickMe platform, this collaboration aims to alleviate such stresses for Indian visitors.
Now, PhonePe users can make secure and swift payments for their rides using UPI, bringing a slice of home convenience to their Sri Lankan journey.
Ritesh Pai, CEO of International Payments at PhonePe, commented on the collaboration:
“Our partnership with PickMe exemplifies the company’s commitment to providing Indian travelers with convenient and trusted payment solutions. Travel is about exploring new cultures, where food and local shopping are integral parts of that adventure. Previously, navigating payments in a new country could be a hassle. Now, with PhonePe, Indian tourists visiting the beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka can enjoy the ease and security of UPI payments for their rides.”
Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:
“Currently, we are the only ride-hailing platform in Sri Lanka to offer such a service to Indian travelers, and we hope to continue to innovate to make our ride-hailing service a convenient, safe, and cost-effective mode of transportation for everyone. This collaboration not only enhances convenience for Indian travelers but also supports our mission to drive digital transformation in Sri Lanka’s transportation sector. By enabling QR payments, we are making travel easier and safer for tourists while also providing a new revenue stream for our drivers.”
This collaboration comes on the heels of PhonePe’s recent launch, where Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha encouraged Sri Lankan companies to engage with Indian firms to build on the UPI stack for innovations in various sectors.
The High Commissioner praised such collaborations, highlighting the potential for greater commercial engagement in the fintech sector to unlock innovation and transformation in the digital domain.
Sri Lanka remains one of the most popular destinations for Indian travelers. This collaboration underscores PhonePe’s commitment to enhancing the overall experience for Indian tourists by allowing them to use familiar services like UPI during their visit.
About PhonePe
Launched in August 2016, PhonePe is India’s leading fintech company, with over 535 million registered users and a digital payments acceptance network of 39 million merchants.
With more than 255 million daily transactions and an annualised Total Payment Value (TPV) exceeding USD 1.5 trillion, PhonePe has established itself as a leader in digital payments.
The company has expanded into various financial services and consumer tech businesses, including Pincode (hyperlocal e-commerce) and Indus App Store (India’s first localised app store).
About PickMe
Established in 2015, PickMe is Sri Lanka’s leading ride-hailing and food delivery platform, providing reliable transportation solutions to millions of users across the country.
Leveraging technology, PickMe has rapidly revolutionized the transportation industry in Sri Lanka.
