The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has partnered with NCG Express to roll out fully digital bus ticketing, allowing passengers to pay fares using cards, QR codes and contactless methods. The initiative supports the government’s Digital Ticketing Initiative and is among the earliest large-scale implementations of integrated digital fare collection in Sri Lanka’s private transport sector.
The system combines on-board ticketing devices with secure payment acceptance and automated settlement through Commercial Bank’s acquiring network. Conductors have been equipped with digital devices that accept card taps, mobile wallets such as Google Pay, and QR-code scans. Transactions are processed in real time with immediate confirmation.
Kapila Liyanage, Commercial Bank’s Assistant General Manager for Personal Banking and Retail Products Development, said digitising high-volume, everyday transactions such as bus fares is key to accelerating Sri Lanka’s shift towards a cashless economy while improving operational efficiency for transport operators.
NCG Express Chairman Nikitha Grero said the partnership would enhance passenger convenience and help build a more secure and inclusive cashless transport ecosystem. NCG Express operates a wide network of bus services, including long-distance routes to the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Initial deployment has begun on selected routes, with plans to extend across the full NCG Express network.
The launch follows the Central Bank’s decision earlier this month to waive LankaQR merchant fees for the month of April, part of a coordinated push to accelerate cashless adoption. Digital fare collection also supports revenue transparency and reduces the risks and handling costs associated with physical cash in the bus sector.
