NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) Expands Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Merchant Acceptance in Sri Lanka

Exam-focused facts from the 20 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with LankaPay to strengthen Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant acceptance across Sri Lanka.
The initiative enables Indian travellers to make real-time digital payments by scanning LankaQR codes using UPI-enabled mobile applications.
UPI acceptance has been enabled at several establishments including Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista, Keells Supermarket, and Odel.
Indian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased from 4,16,000 in 2024 to 5,31,000 in 2025, accounting for the highest share of total international arrivals.
Ritesh Shukla serves as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIPL.