Visa to open office in Sri Lanka

Shows confidence in Lankan economy:

Visa, the global leader in payments technology will open a local office in Colombo soon. Anthony Watson has been appointed as the Country Manager for Sri Lanka.

Group Executive, Asia Pacific, Visa, Chris Clark said, "The payments industry is undergoing a rapid change with new technologies and innovations changing the way we pay and get paid."

Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, T.R. Ramachandran said, "By setting up a local office and appointing an in-market country manager we'll be better positioned to support our clients, partners and merchants to realize this growth and deliver the benefits of electronic payments to consumers and businesses across the country."

Visa Country Manager, Sri Lanka, Anthony Watson said, "In will focus on growing the electronification of commerce as we transition cash payments to electronic payments across the country. In doing so, we will be providing Sri Lankan people with easier and more secure access to their funds, supporting local businesses to grow,encouraging tourism andhelping to stimulate economic growth."

Watson has been associated with Visa since 2009, joining as the Senior Client Relationship Manager handling Visa Processing services in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2011, he moved to Visa's Singapore office to lead the prepaid product development and infrastructure across Asia Pacific and then headed the Product Development and Strategy for the same region, before his appointment as Country Manager Sri Lanka. Visa has been present in Sri Lanka since 1989 and has consolidated its position as a market leader.