PhonePe & PickMe enable contactless payments for Indian tourists in Sri Lanka

By Gloria Mathias

PhonePe has announced its collaboration with PickMe, Sri Lanka’s ride-hailing platform, to enable seamless UPI-based QR payments for Indian travellers in Sri Lanka.

The partnership signifies a step forward in enhancing travellers’ travel experiences by making it convenient for them to make cashless transactions on their PickMe rides from the moment they exit the Bandaranaike International Airport.

While travelling, managing foreign currency and ensuring enough cash on hand for various expenses can often become a hassle. By integrating PhonePe’s UPI-based QR payment system into their platform, PickMe aims to minimise that stress for Indian travellers visiting Sri Lanka.

Ritesh Pai, CEO of International Payments at PhonePe, added, “Our partnership with PickMe exemplifies the company’s commitment to providing Indian travellers with convenient and trusted payment solutions. Travel is all about exploring new cultures, and 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 added, “Currently, we are the only ride-hailing platform in Sri Lanka to offer such a service to Indian travellers, and we hope to continue to innovate so that we make our ride-hailing service a convenient, safe and cost-effective mode of transportation for everyone. This collaboration not only enhances convenience for Indian travellers 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.”

The collaboration follows the launch of PhonePe last month, wherein the Indian High Commissioner, H.E. Santosh Jha urged companies in Sri Lanka to engage with Indian companies to build on the UPI stack for innovations in hotel bookings, cab bookings, delivery services, etc.