Bharti Airtel Lanka, Hatton National Bank, Sony Felica and the Matara Passenger Transport Co. Ltd have commercially launched Sri Lanka's first contactless-enabled multi-function payment service, Colombo Gazette reports.

The payment service works with the HNB One Card, a contactless multi-function Visa card that operates both as a Visa ATM/debit card and as a prepaid card. HNB launched the card in December.

According to the Colombo Gazette, HNB has added an e-bus ticketing facility to the HNB One Card, so that customers can make contactless ticket purchases on the 225 long-distance buses operated by Matara. The multinational telco Airtel is providing NFC connectivity for the HNB card, which uses a contactless chip provided by Japan's Sony Felica.

The Colombo Gazette said the HNB One Card will soon offer ATM transactions, transit payments across Sri Lanka, payments at toll stations on the island's two expressways and drive-through purchases at fast food outlets, supermarkets and fuel stations.

Learn more about contactless/NFC.