ComBank and NCG Express Launch Digital Bus Ticketing System

In a significant commitment to modernizing Sri Lanka's public passenger transport system, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has partnered with NCG Express to introduce a fully digital bus ticketing solution. This groundbreaking collaboration enables passengers to pay fares using debit and credit cards, QR-based payments, and contactless technology, marking one of the early large-scale implementations of integrated digital fare collection in Sri Lanka's private passenger transport sector.

The partnership directly supports the Government's Digital Ticketing Initiative and represents a major step toward reducing cash dependence in public transportation. By combining ticketing devices with secure payment acceptance and automated settlement through the Bank's acquiring network, the initiative aims to improve operational efficiency, enhance transparency in fare collection, and provide passengers with a modern travel experience aligned with global standards.

Under the partnership framework, conductors on NCG Express buses have been 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, allowing the passenger to 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 numerous advantages. The cashless payment option eliminates the need to carry exact change, enables faster and contactless transactions, and provides transparent digital records that build greater trust in the ticketing process. This delivers a smoother and more modern travel experience that aligns with international best practices.

Kapila Liyanage, Assistant General Manager of Personal Banking and Retail Products Development at Commercial Bank, commented on the initiative: "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 operator's full fleet as part of a structured rollout programme. 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.

Nikitha Grero, Chairman of NCG Express, stated: "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."

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

Commercial Bank maintains a strong presence in both card issuing and merchant acquiring, representing one of the largest payment portfolios in the country. The Bank's extensive experience managing large merchant ecosystems and executing nationwide digital payment deployments positions it strongly to lead complex, national-level initiatives. Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalization exceeding US$1 billion, operates 272 strategically located branches island-wide, and maintains the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks.