In a significant commitment of support to efforts to modernise Sri Lanka’s public passenger transport system, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has partnered with NCG Express to introduce fully digital bus ticketing, enabling passengers to pay fares using cards, QR-based payments and contactless technology.

The collaboration supports the Government’s Digital Ticketing Initiative and marks one of the early large-scale implementations of integrated digital fare collection within Sri Lanka’s private passenger transport sector. By combining ticketing devices with secure payment acceptance and automated settlement through the Bank’s acquiring network, the initiative aims to reduce dependence on cash, improve operational efficiency and enhance transparency in fare collection.

Under the partnership, conductors on NCG Express buses are being equipped with digital ticketing devices integrated with Commercial Bank’s payment acceptance solutions. When a passenger boards a bus, the conductor enters the applicable fare into the device, following which the passenger can tap a debit or credit card, use a mobile wallet such as Google Pay, or scan a QR code to complete the payment. Transactions are processed instantly through the Bank’s secure acquiring network, generating immediate confirmation and ensuring seamless, real-time fare collection.

For passengers, the digital ticketing system offers multiple advantages, including the convenience of cashless payments, the elimination of the need to carry exact change, and faster, contactless transactions. Transparent digital records also help build greater trust in the ticketing process while delivering a smoother and more modern travel experience aligned with global standards.

Commenting on this initiative, Mr Kapila Liyanage, Assistant General Manager – Personal Banking/Retail Products Development at Commercial Bank said: “This partnership reflects Commercial Bank’s continued commitment to advancing digital payment innovation and supporting Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country’s leading private sector bank, the Bank sees the digitisation of everyday, high-volume transactions such as public transport fares as a critical step in accelerating the adoption of cashless payments while enabling transport operators to operate more efficiently and transparently.”

Initial deployment has already commenced on selected NCG Express routes, with plans to progressively expand the system across the well-known operator’s full fleet as part of a structured rollout programme. Mr. Nikitha Grero, Chairman of NCG Express said: “In line with our commitment to transform the transport sector in Sri Lanka, we are happy to partner with Commercial Bank to facilitate a convenient and seamless digital payment method for our passengers. This collaboration extends beyond convenience – it enhances standards in Sri Lanka’s transport infrastructure via a secure and inclusive cashless transport ecosystem. We are proud to support this digital shift, ensuring that every journey with NCG Express is as hassle-free as it is comfortable. We look forward to driving wider collaboration across the transport industry in the future as well, facilitating seamless, convenient travel island wide.”

NCG Express, a subsidiary of NCG Holdings, operates a comprehensive fleet of super luxury buses, semi-luxury buses and non-air-conditioned passenger buses, serving an extensive route network that includes long-distance services to Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces. The company connects residential, commercial and industrial areas across the country, providing convenient transport solutions for thousands of daily commuters.

By enabling the large-scale digitisation of fare collection within the private bus sector, the initiative establishes a practical and scalable model for other transport operators. It enhances transparency in revenue collection, reduces the risks associated with manual cash handling and contributes directly to the broader goal of creating a digitally enabled public transport ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

The Bank maintains a strong and significant presence across both card issuing and merchant acquiring, collectively representing one of the largest payment portfolios in the country. This scale is supported by extensive experience in managing large and diverse merchant ecosystems and executing nationwide digital payment deployments across multiple sectors. Further strengthened by regional and international exposure through its overseas operations, Commercial Bank leverages global best practices and proven operating models, positioning it strongly to lead and sustain complex, national-level digital payment initiatives.

Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn. and was also the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World. Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded Bank in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank is also a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.

Commercial Bank operates a network of 272 strategically located branches and automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.