Indian tourists can now use UPI for ride-hailing services in Sri Lanka on the PickMe app, with a 20% discount on fares. This initiative by NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) simplifies cross-border payments, reducing the need for currency exchange for the country's top source of inbound tourism.
Indian travelers visiting Sri Lanka can now pay for ride-hailing services using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) through the PickMe platform. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has announced this integration, which allows users to complete transactions directly via their UPI-enabled applications. To encourage adoption, travelers will receive a 20% discount on their rides, subject to a maximum cap of LKR 750 per ride.
This move is designed to streamline payments for Indians, who remain the largest source of international tourists for Sri Lanka. According to tourism data, the island nation welcomed over 531,000 visitors from India in 2025. By allowing users to pay in their home currency equivalent via UPI, the initiative significantly reduces the reliance on local currency cash or foreign exchange cards for daily travel expenses.
To utilize this feature, travelers must ensure that 'UPI International' or 'UPI Global' is activated on their respective banking applications before leaving India. The system is designed to interface with the local LankaQR network, which is already functional at various tourist hotspots, restaurants, and shopping centers across Sri Lanka.
From a strategic perspective, the partnership with PickMe—a major local platform with over 1.9 million users—demonstrates the continued push by NIPL to expand the reach of Indian digital payment infrastructure into international markets. The goal is to provide a familiar and efficient payment experience for Indians traveling abroad, similar to the convenience they experience domestically.
However, users should keep a few operational factors in mind. The experience relies on the technical compatibility between Indian banking systems and Sri Lankan payment rails. Additionally, while the 20% discount provides immediate value, the final cost of a ride can fluctuate slightly depending on real-time currency exchange rates applied during the transaction. As this ecosystem grows, the main items to track for the sector include the reliability of these cross-border digital links and the speed of integration with other local service providers in the region.