VISA

Empowering Sri Lanka’s Micro-Merchants: Visa Introduces Game-Changing Acceptance Solution with Hatton National Bank

Colombo, 23 September 2025 — Visa, the global leader in digital payments, in partnership with Hatton National Bank (HNB), today announced the launch of ‘Visa Accept’ solution in Sri Lanka. This is the first-ever global rollout of the solution, placing Sri Lanka at the forefront of digital payments innovation.  

The launch is timely with Sri Lankan Government’s sharp focus on revitalizing micro and small business owners who form the backbone of the economy.

Visa Accept promotes financial inclusion by seamlessly integrating traditionally excluded micro-entrepreneurs into the digital commerce ecosystem. This solution reduces the entry costs for micro-entrepreneurs, enabling them to explore new economic opportunities. It particularly empowers women entrepreneurs and home-based businesses by providing a secure and easy pathway to growth and scalability.

While opening a merchant account could often involve deterrents like complex paperwork, licensing, and expensive point-of-sale devices, Visa Accept transforms the very architecture by enabling any Visa-debit or Visa-prepaid cardholders to instantly convert their existing account into a seller profile through HNB’s mobile banking app, using just their mobile phone. 

Within minutes, micro-businesses can begin receiving payments, transforming mobile phones into secure acceptance devices. Customers can complete transactions through Tap-to-phone or Pay-by-link, enabling a secure and seamless payment experience for both the seller and the consumer.  

For the home baker taking her first online orders, the vegetable vendor expanding beyond cash, or the craft seller reaching new buyers, Visa Accept will help to boost Sri Lanka’s micro-businesses, making a simple phone a gateway to economic opportunity. 

Behind the scenes, Visa’s network ensures funds are settled in near real time, giving sellers quick access to their earnings. With built-in limits on number of transactions and amounts, Visa Accept also helps reduce risk exposure, creating a secure and scalable environment for digital payment acceptance. For micro-merchants who operate on thin cash flows, this level of immediacy and payment authentication can make a groundbreaking difference between surviving and scaling.  

Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Visa,said, “Visa Accept is more than a payments innovation. It is a strategic leap towards financial inclusion of micro-merchants by enabling their onboarding into the formal economy and accelerating economic participation. By powering anyone with a Visa debit or prepaid card to become a seller within minutes, we are not only simplifying acceptance but also opening new avenues for them to thrive in the digital economy. 

Through our partnership with Hatton National Bank (HNB), we have embedded the solution into one of Sri Lanka’s most trusted banking networks. Customers can activate Visa Accept directly within their HNB mobile banking app. Transaction thresholds have been carefully calibrated to balance opportunity with security and safeguard sellers and consumers with Visa’s global protection rails. 

Sri Lanka is the first market within Visa globally to introduce this solution. This underscores our continued commitment to Sri Lanka’s digital transformation and socio-economic progress.” 

Damith Pallewatte, Managing Director, Hatton National Bank, Sri Lanka, mentioned, “With Visa Accept now integrated into our mobile banking app, HNB is enabling thousands of micro and small businesses to accept digital payments instantly, using just a mobile phone. This marks a significant step in our mission to modernize financial access, elevate the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and support Sri Lanka’s digital economy by digitizing P2P transactions. As the country accelerates its transformation, we reaffirm our role as a trusted partner in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future.” 

Julie J. Chung, United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who was present at the launch, said, “Visa Accept is more than a payments solution — it’s about unleashing the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that drives Sri Lanka’s future. By making payments faster, easier, and more secure, this innovation helps small businesses tap into global markets, expand their reach, and modernize their operations. For over 35 years, Visa has been a trusted partner in Sri Lanka, and its collaboration with HNB and the Ministry of Digital Economy is another clear signal of U.S. companies’ commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s digital transformation and economic growth.”

About the Visa Accept launch Hon. Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Government of Sri Lanka, said, “Sri Lanka’s digital economy is entering a transformative era — one defined by inclusion, innovation, and empowerment. The launch of Visa Accept is a timely and strategic innovation that directly supports our national mission to accelerate the adoption of digital payments, particularly among micro and small businesses, as we advance toward building a cashless society. We deeply value the continued partnership of Visa and HNB in powering Sri Lanka’s digital future and unlocking inclusive economic growth across the nation.” 

Visa Accept solution will also be showcased at the FinTech Festival on September 24, 2025.