HNB joins SLT-MOBITEL in enhancing e-commerce capabilities for SMEs with Cochchi.lk

Connecting local SMEs to new e-commerce markets and buyers, Sri Lanka’s most digitally innovative
bank, HNB PLC, partnered with SLT-MOBITEL to offer SMEs free access to the new online trading
platform Cochchi.lk.
The partnership between the two industry giants will provide HNB SMEs additional benefits when
onboarding to the new e-commerce platform. HNB Deputy general Manager- Retail & SME Banking,
Sanjay Wijemanne, HNB Assistant General Manager- SME, Kailaivasan Indravasan, HNB Head of SME
Products & Partnerships, Niluka Amarasinghe, and SLT Chief Information and Digital Officer, Tilak
Gamlath, SLT General Manager- Digital Transformation Projects, Ishari Siriwardane, SLT Deputy
General Manager Digital Projects, Dinesh Perera and SLT Senior Manager (Marketing)-SME Product
Development, Lalwin De Zoysa were present at a special ceremony held to commemorate the
partnership.
HNB Assistant General Manager- SME, Kailaivasan Indravasan said: “Given the current economic
crisis, there is no doubt that we as Sri Lankans have to look at new avenues and opportunities to
revive our economy. Our focus on improving our exports and identifying new markets for our SMEs,
who have always been the backbone of our economy, will generate new sources of cash flow that
we desperately need. As a bank that has always worked with SMEs, we believe that facilitating their
transition online is essential. As such, we are delighted to partner with SLT-MOBITEL to provide our
SME customers with this opportunity.”
The partnership will offer HNB customers various benefits such as free advertising space, exclusion
from initiation and subscription fees, and the ability to purchase extra value-added services.
Moreover, the platform will provide customers with a wide variety of products spanning over 500
categories, including a separate “Made in Sri Lanka” category for locally manufactured products.
The proposed E-commerce platform will be hosted in Data Centre of SLT-MOBITEL in a cloud
environment. Furthermore, the platform will enable SME and Enterprise customers to create their
online stores and e-shops while offering the users (end customers and storeowners), a flexible,
feature-rich e- commerce platform that addresses a wide range of e-business needs.
SLT Chief Information and Digital Officer, Tilak Gamlath said: “SMEs have always been the lifeblood
of the Sri Lankan economy, and we are working towards enhancing their e-commerce capabilities to
enter global markets. We are honoured to partner with HNB who has a long history of working
with and creating successful Sri Lankan SMEs.”

Press Release

Most recently, HNB sealed its reputation as Sri Lanka’s undisputed leader in retail banking, having
been crowned as the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 12th occasion at the prestigious
International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2022 hosted by the Asian Banker
Magazine.
The bank’s dedicated fitness related product, HNB FIT, was crowned the ‘Best IoT initiative’ at the
Asian Digital Finance Forum and Awards. Hosted by the Asian FinTech Academy (AFTA), the forum
recognised and awarded organisations and impactful individuals who drive innovation in the digital
sphere.
The digitally-savvy bank further consolidated its position at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards
2022, where it bagged four top awards. HNB was awarded the prestigious Bank of the Year for
Financial Inclusivity and Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience titles, in addition
to being presented with the Silver award for ‘Financial Institution of the Year for Best Digital
Payment Strategy’ and Bronze for ‘Overall Award – Excellence in Interbank Digital Payments’
(Banking Institutions) this year.
Photo Caption: HNB Deputy General Manager- Retail and SME Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne ( fifth
from right) exchanging the MoU with, SLT Chief Information and Digital Officer Tilak Gamalath
(fourth from right) with (from left -right) HNB Undergraduate Trainee, Yashodhi Hanwella, HNB
Head of Refinance Schemes & Special Lending Products, Bandara Rekogama, HNB Head of Cards,
Gauthami Niranjan, HNB Head of Microfinance Vinod Fernando, HNB Head of SME Products and
Partnerships, Niluka Amarasinghe, HNB Assistant General Manager , Digital Business, Chammika
Weerasinghe HNB Assistant General Manager, SME K. Indravasan, SLT General Manager Digital
Transformation Projects, Ishari Siriwardane SLT Senior Manager (Marketing)- Lalwin De Zoysa and
SLT Deputy General Manager Digital Projects Dinesh Perera

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