Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality brands, has introduced Unified Payments Interface (UPI) acceptance across its 17 properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, offering Indian travellers a seamless, cashless payment option while abroad.
The move allows guests to settle bills directly through their existing UPI apps, eliminating the need for currency exchange, handling cash, or relying on international credit and debit cards. The initiative is aimed at making leisure, family, and business trips more convenient and friction-free for one of Sri Lanka’s most important source markets.
In a press statement, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts highlighted that India continues to be the top source of tourists for Sri Lanka, with strong demand for leisure travel, weddings, and business events. By offering UPI payments, the hospitality group is removing a key hurdle for Indian guests who are accustomed to the digital payment ecosystem in their home country.
At Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2026, Hishan Singhawansa, CEO of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, emphasized the strategic importance of the move. “Indian travellers increasingly prioritise ease and familiarity alongside experience,” Singhawansa said. “Introducing UPI across our portfolio is not just a technology upgrade—it is a practical response to the way our guests already live and spend.”
The company’s India-focused strategy is further supported by Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, an integrated resort offering luxury hotels, gaming, dining, retail, and convention facilities. The property has already drawn significant interest from Indian leisure travellers and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) groups, driving growth in destination weddings, city stays, and business tourism. By doing so, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts is positioning Colombo as a destination for experiences and events, rather than merely a transit hub.
This move reflects a broader trend in the hospitality industry to integrate familiar digital payment systems, catering to the expectations of international travellers and strengthening cross-border travel convenience.
