The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has issued a public warning about an ongoing cyber scam targeting motorists through fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages impersonating official police notifications.

According to SLCERT, the messages falsely claim that traffic violations have been detected via CCTV cameras and direct recipients to pay fines through a fake website designed to closely resemble the Government’s official “GovPay” platform. 

The fraudulent site is intended to mislead the public and trick individuals into disclosing sensitive personal and financial information.

SLCERT cautioned that victims attempting to make payments through these fake websites risk exposing credit and debit card details, OTP codes, National Identity Card information, and other confidential data to cyber criminals.

SLCERT urged the public to remain vigilant and follow safety measures, including:

• Avoid suspicious links received via SMS or WhatsApp.
• Verify websites before making any payments.
• Do not share banking details with unknown platforms.
• Never disclose OTP codes to third parties.
• Report suspicious activity immediately to Sri Lanka CERT or the Police.

SLCERT also reminded motorists that traffic fines through the GovPay system should only be settled after an official notification is issued by a police officer and a valid traffic fine ticket is formally provided. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka officially completed the island-wide rollout of the GovPAY digital traffic fine payment system on February 3, 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital governance efforts.

The system now covers all nine provinces, enabling motorists to pay traffic fines electronically from any location and retrieve their licenses without delay.

To date, the platform has processed over 86,000 transactions and collected more than Rs. 115 million digitally. Cash payments have also been enabled through 55,000+ Dialog eZ Cash merchant outlets nationwide.

Technology entrepreneur Harsha Purasinghe lauded the islandwide rollout of the GovPAY Traffic Fine project on social media.

Taking to X, Purasinghe said that he takes pride in the initiative, which began as a pilot in April 2025 across 11 police stations. He said the project has now evolved into a fully structured, island-wide system.

The project is supported by all leading banks and fintech applications in Sri Lanka. From this week, cash payments are also accepted through more than 55,000 Dialog eZ Cash merchant outlets, expanding accessibility for citizens, he added.

Purasinghe also acknowledged the rollout as the result of extensive collaboration and coordination among government ministries, the police, financial institutions, telecom operators, and technology partners.

“This rollout involved months of training, coordination, and collaboration across ministries, police teams, banks, fintech partners, and telcos. Huge appreciation to the Hon. Ministers/Deputy Ministers Transport/Public Security/Digital Economy, Secretaries to the Ministries, the Chair/Board of ICTA & ICTA Finance/Admin team, LankaPay (Channa de Silva & Team), SLT Chairman & leadership, and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes,” he said.

He also acknowledged contributions of senior police officials including IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, DIG Traffic Senadeera, and former DIG Indika Hapugoda.

“I joined ICTA’s Board in November 2024, and this has been one of the most fulfilling citizen-service projects I’ve driven under GovPAY. Even after leaving ICTA board in October last year, I continued to steer this initiative as Digital Advisor to the Ministry of Transport voluntarily through to its completion,” Purasinghe said.

GovPAY aims to enhance public service delivery by offering a more transparent, efficient, and accessible method for settling traffic violations, streamlining enforcement, and reducing administrative burdens.(Newswire)

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Motorists in the Nuwara Eliya and Hatton Police Divisions can now pay traffic fines online through the Gov Pay system, introduced jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), and LankaPay.

The official inauguration and awareness program took place on Feb. 2, 2026, at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat.

The event was held under the patronage of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for the Nuwara Eliya District, Priyantha Chandrasiri, and DIG of the Traffic and Road Safety Range, W. P. J. Senadheera.

Representatives from ICTA and LankaPay provided technical instruction to police officers on implementing the online payment system.

ICTA Project Manager Udari Withanage, Technical Officer Inuka Mayakaduwa, and LankaPay Project Manager Amila Ekanayake led sessions on system usage and public awareness efforts. DIG Senadheera delivered the keynote address.

During the program, smartphones were symbolically issued to officers to support the rollout of the digital payment process.

The Gov Pay system allows motorists to pay fines online and immediately reclaim their driving licenses upon completion. Officers in the Central Province are available to assist the public with using the system. Users may also choose to pay fines later by following directions provided on the Gov Pay platform. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s state digital payment platform, GovPay, has exceeded Rs. 2 billion in total transaction value by the close of 2025. 

The Ministry of Digital Economy noted that this achievement is particularly significant as the final Rs. 1 billion was recorded within just 45 days.

Since its launch on 7 February 2025, more than 69,000 digital transactions have been carried out, covering 3,372 government services across 215 state institutions.

Introduced on 10 April 2025, the online traffic fine payment system has already generated over Rs. 66 million in revenue from more than 50,000 transactions.

Currently operating in the Western, Southern, Northern, North Western, and North Central provinces as well as on expressways, the traffic fine payment service is scheduled to expand nationwide by January 2026, beginning with the Central Province.

At present, all local government institutions in the Northern Province and all Divisional Secretariats in the Southern Province are connected to the system.

By 2026, the government aims to digitize all local government institutions. 

Institutions such as the Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka Police, Department of Technical Education and Training, University of Moratuwa, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board were among the top contributors to GovPay in 2025.

Additionally, in response to disaster conditions in November 2025, GovPay helped raise nearly Rs. 14 million for the ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Fund.’

Implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Digital Economy, and operated jointly by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and LankaPay, the project is described as a key milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey toward building a USD 15 billion digital economy by 2030. (Newswire)

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The government has introduced a mechanism to make donations through the ‘GovPay’ digital payment platform with the aim of providing relief to the people affected by the adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka. 

This system has now been introduced in a convenient and transparent manner to enable donations to the Disaster Relief Fund established by the Ministry of Finance.

Through the government payment gateway, ‘GovPay’, anyone can instantly make donations at any time. The donated funds are credited to the fund in real-time, allowing contributions to be made easily from home or anywhere else. 

The Ministry of Digital Economy emphasized that the entire process is carried out with full transparency.

Donations to the Disaster Relief Fund can be made via the commercial banks and authorized FinTech applications connected to GovPay.

For details on the list of banks and FinTech apps through which donations can be made, please visit: https://govpay.lk/si/supported-banks-fintech. (Newswire)

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GovPay has facilitated over 21,600 online traffic fine payments since its launch in April 2025, generating more than Rs. 28 million in government revenue.

According to the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), the system continues to expand nationwide, providing citizens with a faster, more transparent, and efficient method to settle traffic fines.

Implemented under the Ministry of Digital Economy in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police and LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd, GovPay enables motorists to pay fines online without visiting police stations or banks.

The digital platform was first introduced through pilot projects in Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, and Matale Districts, followed by expansion to the Western Province, expressways, and most recently, the Southern Province.

ICTA said the income collected reflects growing public trust in digital payments and demonstrates the success of Sri Lanka’s move toward a fully digitized public service.

GovPay’s integration across all provinces is expected to be completed in the coming months, allowing nationwide access to online fine payments. (Newswire)

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The GovPay Digital State Payment Platform was officially launched at the Jaffna District Secretariat today, in line with the vision of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to bring digital services closer to the people of the Northern Province. 

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, with the participation of the Jaffna District Secretary and all Divisional Secretaries of the district.

According to the Ministry of Transport, this launch marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards a digitally empowered public service. 

GovPay is designed to provide citizens with easy access to transparent, secure, and efficient government services, reducing inefficiencies while enhancing public trust in state institutions.

As a government, our ultimate objective is to ensure that all Sri Lankans across the nation can benefit from safe, accessible, and reliable digital services, paving the way for an inclusive and connected digital future for the country, the ministry added. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has joined GovPay, the government’s digital payment platform, as part of its initiative to modernize Sri Lanka’s tourism industry through digitalization.

This integration enables seamless, secure, and hassle-free online payments for a wide range of SLTDA services, offering greater convenience to stakeholders across the tourism ecosystem.

As one of the country’s most vital industries, tourism lies at the heart of Sri Lanka’s economic revival. By embracing GovPay, SLTDA aims to streamline processes, reduce administrative hurdles, and create a more transparent and efficient business environment, further supporting the Government’s vision of positioning Sri Lanka as a world-class tourist destination powered by digital innovation.

This integration allows tourism industry operators across the country to pay the Tourism Development Levy, including under-payments, defaults, and late payments, seamlessly through their banks’ internet and mobile banking portals or any FinTech app connected to GovPay. Currently, digital payment platforms of 14 banks, including Amana Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Cargills Bank, Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank, HNB, Nations Trust Bank, NDB Bank, National Savings Bank, Pan Asia Bank, People’s Bank, Sampath Bank, SDB Bank and Seylan Bank, along with 6 FinTech apps including CIM by LB Finance, FriMi, Genie, Helapay, iPay and WEBXPAY, support payments to SLTDA via GovPay.

Launched in February 2025 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, GovPay is a collaborative effort by the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and LankaPay, which is aptly backed by the Ministry of Digital Economy. 

Aimed to revolutionize the way the citizens access public services, since its launch, the platform has facilitated payments for 1,773 government services, with a total transaction value exceeding Rs. 110 Mn. SLTDA is the 134th institution to have been onboarded GovPay.

Commenting on this milestone, Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of SLTDA, said “The launch of GovPay is a testament to our commitment to digital transformation and improving public services. By integrating with this platform, we expect a significant boost in efficiency across tourism-related transactions, making Sri Lanka an even more attractive destination for investors and visitors alike.”

The initiative also aligns with the Government’s broader vision of creating a digitally inclusive society. 

Addressing the gathering, Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, said, “I would like to congratulate the Chairman and Team of SLTDA, as they take this bold step towards cashless operations by connecting to the GovPay platform. GovPay is a pivotal Digital Infrastructure, based on which Government Institutions will transform their transaction Interface with citizens and businesses. It is truly rewarding for the teams at LankaPay and ICTA to receive the enthusiastic support and commitment of institutions such as the SLTDA in growing the impact and reach of this pan-government platform”.

Harsha Purasinghe, Board Director of ICTA, further elaborated, “With TDL payments and license renewals now powered by GovPay, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is embracing digital payments in a way that delivers real value to the industry. This transformation not only saves time and effort for tourism institutions but also ensures a smoother, more reliable service experience for all stakeholders.”

As the operator of the national payment network and a key partner of GovPay, LankaPay operates the GovPay platform, ensuring the security and reliability of all transactions made via GovPay. 

Speaking of this collaboration, Channa de Silva, CEO of LankaPay, said, “Our role in GovPay underscores our commitment to fostering a cashless economy and promoting financial inclusion. With state-of-the-art security measures in place, we guarantee that all payments are processed securely and efficiently, offering unparalleled convenience, which is paramount to wider adoption of GovPay by both citizens and institutions.”

The initial rollout with SLTDA will focus on services linked to the Tourism Development Levy, with a phased expansion planned to include other payments. This collaborative effort among SLTDA, ICTA, and LankaPay demonstrates how public and private sector partnerships can deliver tangible benefits, advancing Sri Lanka’s digital economy while strengthening its tourism sector. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police warns motorists not to exceed the speed limit on expressways under the impression that spot fines could now be settled via the GovPay app.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety, Indika Hapugoda, said cases will be filed against motorists exceeding 120 km/h.

Speaking during a televised interview, he said that even though a fine will be imposed for overspeeding in such instances, a case will also be filed against the motorists. 

“There are separate fine rates for speeding per the new Gazette notification. Rs. 3000 will be imposed for travelling between 100- 120 km/h, Rs. 5000 for travelling between 120- 130 Km/h, Rs. 10,000 for travelling between 130-140 km/h, and Rs. 15,000 for travelling between 140-150 km/h. Cases will be filed against motorists who have exceeded 150 km/h,” he said. 

DIG Indika Hapugoda explained that, however, at present, any motorist travelling beyond 120 km/h on the expressway will be imposed a fine, which could be settled via GovPay on the spot, while the Police will also file a case against them. 

He said the spot fine system has been introduced to minimise the hassle faced by motorists in the event of obtaining a traffic fine and for the immediate release of their driving licences. (Newswire)

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Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says the payment of spot fines issued for traffic violations via the GovPay app commences today in the Western Province.

According to the minister, the payment of spot fines issued by the Police for traffic violations can be settled using the GovPay app starting today.

The introduction of the GovPay app for spot fines in the Western Province comes after Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) received Cabinet approval for the payment system in July.

As the first phase of the new online traffic fine payment system, it has been launched in connection with Police stations in the Western Province.

The ICTA expects to launch the system nationwide from September this year. (Newswire)

How to pay Traffic Fines Online

https://www.newswire.lk/2025/07/28/how-to-pay-traffic-fines-online-via-govpay/

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Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has announced that a nationwide system will be implemented to allow citizens to pay local fines digitally, from September this year. 

Addressing a media briefing held today, ICTA Board member Harsha Purasinghe said that steps will be taken to enable the payment of spot fines issued by the Police for traffic violations through the GovPay app.

Revealing details about the new online traffic fine payment system, he stated that the first phase would be launched by the end of this month in connection with Police stations in the Western and Southern Provinces.

“A few weeks ago, we received Cabinet approval. So, starting this month, we will begin implementing the process of collecting fines digitally across the island. We hope to introduce this in the first phase by the end of this month, covering Police stations in two provinces, the Western and Southern. Following that, we will rapidly expand the system to cover all police stations island-wide by September,” he said.

Harsha Purasinghe also mentioned that although the GovPay mechanism did not initially have a supporting app when it was launched, those apps are now ready, and people can carry out fine payments using their preferred bank through the system. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Postal Department has reportedly suffered a significant revenue loss due to the introduction of the GovPay payment gateway for traffic fines.  

According to the Postal Trade Unions Front (UPTUF), the new digital service has eliminated the income generated by the Postal Department from such payments.

The trade union points out that this shift from post office-based fine payments results in the Postal Department losing between Rs. 600 million and Rs. 800 million in annual revenue.

The Postal Trade Unions Front reveals that this new digital payment for traffic fines was introduced when the Postal Department had already introduced a new SMS notification system for individuals paying police fines at post offices.

Stating that this system was proposed to be developed to notify the respective traffic police officer and the individual who paid the fine via SMS, the trade union claimed that it was not implemented due to a lack of response from the Police Department.

The trade union revealed it was not opposed to the use of technology and urged the government to launch the SMS fine system designed by the Postal Department, warning that a revenue loss could directly impact the Treasury.

As the GovPay online traffic fine payment system has been introduced as a pilot programme, the trade union urged the government to revise and integrate its SMS fine system. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), is preparing to launch the pilot phase of the GovPay Traffic Fines system—an online platform designed to enable motorists to pay traffic fines digitally.

A workshop to finalize the implementation of the pilot project was held today in Dambulla, with the participation of senior police officials, including the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the DIG Traffic, along with key representatives from government and technology sectors.

ICTA board member Harsha Purasinghe, who attended the event, shared an update on social media, stating: “Absolutely thrilled to have successfully concluded the GovPay Traffic Fines Workshop today in Dambulla! We’re now all set to launch the pilot run of the GovPay Traffic Fines system. Stay tuned for the GoLIVE of the #GovPay Traffic Fines pilot!”

The initiative is expected to streamline traffic fine payments, reduce administrative burdens, and promote greater transparency in law enforcement. The pilot rollout is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.

The project is supported by ICTA, the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Ministry of Transport, LankaPay, Sri Lanka Telecom/Mobitel and other stakeholders committed to advancing digital government services in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) says steps are being taken to enable Govpay for the payment of traffic fines. 

According to ICTA Board Member, Harsha Purasinghe, the public will very soon be able to settle traffic fines through Govpay, to provide relief to motorists. 

It is reported that groundwork in this regard has been completed by the ICTA and an agreement is set to be signed soon. 

Govpay is a newly introduced official online payment platform for government-related services, such as taxes, fines, utility bills, and educational fees.

Speaking during a recent forum in Colombo, Harsha Purasinghe revealed that the newly appointed ICTA Board had found that despite being piloted, the Govpay digital payment platform had not been introduced.

“After coordination with several other agencies, Govpay was finally launched to the public with many new features within a short period. When we launched Govpay on the 7th, we had 16 government organisations on board. As of today, we have 25 organisations. Every week, we are adding new public institutions,” Purasinghe said. (Newswire)

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