Sri Lanka's leading private sector bank, HNB PLC, recently won three awards at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024, including the ‘Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience title’.
Hosted by LankaPay to recognise and reward flag bearers and promoters of innovative digital payment solutions, the awarding night was held at Shangri-La Hotel Colombo on the 20th of March, with the participation of Chief Guest State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath and State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe,
"These awards are a recognition of our team's work towards pioneering digital payment solutions and our ethos to always prioritise customer convenience. As Sri Lanka embraces a digital payments uptake, particularly regarding financial requirements, our recognition by LankaPay validates our efforts and motivates us to further enhance our digitalization drive further," said Sanjay Wijemanne, DGM - Retail Banking Group at HNB.
In addition to being presented with the Gold Award for the ‘Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience’, HNB also won the Silver Award for ‘Best Digital Payment Strategy' and a Merit Award for 'Most Popular Digital Payment Product'.
HNB’s drive for digitalisation took notable steps forward over the past year, unveiling new products and significantly improving their current digital portfolio. Notably, HNB recently launched HNB TXB – a powerful integrated digital transaction banking platform that offers companies – from MSMEs to MNCs – enabling enterprises of any size to gain complete visibility and management over payments, cash management, global trade, value-chain financing, treasury and settlements of foreign currency transactions. The Bank also rolled out HNB Self Onboarding, a transformative digital banking solution that allows any Sri Lankan national the opportunity to sign up for the full range of HNB’s key products entirely remotely.
Initiated in 2017 to recognise the pioneers of payment technology innovations in the country, the LankaPay Technnovation Awards institutions enhance the efficiency of the national payment network.
“It is quite evident that the world is seamlessly adapting to digital mediums, especially in financial and banking requirements. HNB will continue to understand this shift and work to innovate and improve its digital payments products.” HNB AGM-Digital Business Chammika Weerasinghe said.
With 254 customer centers, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative private banks. Consolidating its legacy in sustainability, good governance, and corporate excellence, HNB was crowned the Best Corporate Citizen for 2022 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Awards. Other major accolades include being adjudged the “Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka” for the 14th occasion by the Asian Banker, being declared the “Best SME Bank” by Asiamoney Magazine, as well as securing a Top 5 position on Business Today’s Top 40 rankings for 2023.
HNB was ranked among Sri Lanka’s Top 10 Most Admired companies in 2022 by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka. HNB was also recognized for its service excellence in trade services at the Euromoney Awards, taking home the prestigious titles of Best Market Leader in Trade Finance Services and Best Services provider.
HNB Deputy General Manager- Retail Banking Group Sanjay Wijemanne accepting the Gold Award for the Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience from Central Bank Director Payments and Settlements, Vasantha Alwis in the presence of (from left) HNB Senior Manager- Digital Banking Chakshika Amarawardhana , HNB AGM - Digital Business Chammika Weerasinghe, LankaPay Chairman Dr. Kenneth De Zilwa and LankaPay General Manger/ CEO Channa De Silva.
HNB AGM - Digital Business Chammika Weerasinghe and HNB AGM – Operations Sivarajah Nandakumar accepting the Silver Award for the Best Digital Payment Strategy from the State Minister of Technology of Sri Lanka Kanaka Herath and the Secretary to the Ministry of Technology Dr. Dharmasri Kumaratunge in the presence of (from left) LankaPay Chairman Dr. Kenneth De Zilwa, LankaPay GM/ CEO Channa De Silva and HNB Manager - SOLO Harold Elanco.
HNB Manager – Digital Engagement Center Rajan Lazarus accepting the Merit Award for the Most Popular Digital Payment Product from the Central Bank Member - Governing Board and Monetary Policy Board, Nihal Fonseka in the presence of (from left) HNB Senior Manager- Digital Banking Chakshika Amarawardhana , HNB Head of Digital Services Shankar Dharmaratne, LankaPay Chairman Dr. Kenneth De Zilwa, Central Bank Director Payments and Settlements Vasantha Alwis, LankaPay GM/ CEO Channa De Silva, HNB AGM - IT/ CIO Druvinda Vaidyakularatne and HNB Head of Digital Deliveries and Enterprise Software Chamara Gunawardena.
