Sampath Bank, SLPA to expedite port related payments

Sampath Bank, a premier private commercial bank, has partnered with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to expedite port related landing and delivery payments and deliver a hassle-free facility to exporters and importers.

This is the first time this landing and delivery payment facility is being made available to private commercial banks in Sri Lanka and Sampath Bank is the first to be chosen by SLPA to manage it.

An official said that Sampath Bank hopes to simplify port related payments procedure and guarantee transparency in documentation via its innovative information and technological know-how.

He said that this partnership was a step further in keeping with the government's e-Sri Lanka initiative. Now, freight forwarders, logistic solution providers, or cargo agents can use Sampath Vishwa internet banking retail or corporate facility or Sampath Bank branches and make port related payments and clear their cargo in the least time possible.

To expedite payments for the SLPA, the customer is given two options to make payments through Sampath Bank delivery channels either through Sampath Internet Banking Solution (Sampath Vishwa retail and corporate) or via a visit to the nearest branch.

The payment should be done by the customer based on the invoice number issued by the SLPA system. Once the payment is made, the invoice number will be validated real time by the Sampath Bank system by connecting online to SLPA and simultaneously the payment details will be directly posted to the SLPA System.

An SMS alert will be sent to the customer for the relevant debit transaction. To process these payments, customers can use their iPad, mobile phone or a computer to log on to the online payment system or visit the nearest Bank branch or any Sampath Bank super branch.

Another unique feature is that Sampath Bank customers and non-customers can make port related payments through Super Branches, 365-days-of-the-year, including holidays, from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.