People’s Bank launched its “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai” for the 4th consecutive year to appreciate and engage with the growing Sri Lankan expatriate community, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the nation’s economy. The Bank’s dedication to recognizing the sacrifices and labor of Sri Lankans overseas is demonstrated by this extensive endeavor. By concentrating on Workers’ Remittances, People’s Bank aims to provide the highest level of efficiency, security, and convenience to these clients while simultaneously cultivating enduring connections.
By offering tailored banking solutions that enhance convenience—such as real-time, web-based remittance platforms for instant credits/cash payouts, competitive exchange rates, advanced digital services, and low transaction costs—People’s Bank aims to strengthen its bond with Sri Lankan expatriates. Committed to enhancing customer experience, the bank strives to be the trusted financial partner for those sending money home. Beyond attracting new business, it focuses on ensuring that remitters continue to use secure, legitimate financial channels, ultimately supporting the nation’s economic growth.
People’s Bank’s Deputy General Manager (Overseas Customer Services), Aruni Liyanagunawardana, stated, “At People’s Bank, we deeply appreciate the unwavering dedication and hard work of Sri Lankan expatriates who support their families while contributing to the nation’s progress. Our commitment goes beyond providing secure and efficient remittance services—we strive to build lasting relationships that empower our customers to achieve their financial goals and invest in a prosperous future”.
This commitment to supporting Sri Lankan expatriates is reflected in the bank’s ongoing efforts to recognize and reward their contributions. Through innovative initiatives like the “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai” program, People’s Bank not only ensures seamless and secure remittance services but also expresses its gratitude by offering tangible rewards and incentives. These campaigns are designed to strengthen the bond between the bank and its valued customers, encouraging the continued use of formal remittance channels while enhancing financial inclusion and long-term prosperity.
The “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai” program, running through 2025, serves as the central theme of this campaign. Now in its fourth year, the initiative has made a significant impact by recognizing the invaluable contributions of Sri Lankan expatriates. A key highlight of the campaign is the weekly draw from 1st January to 31st December 2025, offering a travel package to Bangkok for participants who remit funds through People’s Bank—whether to accounts within the bank or via partner services such as Western Union, Ria, and other over-the-counter cash collection channels. Through this initiative, People’s Bank reaffirms its deep appreciation for the dedication of Sri Lankans working abroad and their vital role in shaping the nation’s economic future.
The “People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai 2025” campaign takes its commitment to recognizing remitters a step further with a series of targeted marketing initiatives in different specific time spans, each dedicated to honoring different customer segments receiving foreign remittances. These include “Ran Kaasi Vaasi” in January, which celebrates high-value remitters and reward with gold coins, and “Nidahas Pranama” in February, recognizing the children of expatriates by encouraging the opening of “Ethera Udana” PFCA Minors’ accounts during Independence Week, with one selected family per branch receiving a special cash reward. In March, “Vanitha Pranama” commemorates International Women’s Day, focusing on empowering women. This campaign focuses on female beneficiaries and the top ten female account holders who receive the highest value of Workers’ Remittances into their People’s Bank accounts during March 2025 are each awarded cash prizes of Rs. 50,000. Through these initiatives—whether via specific categories or random draws—People’s Bank expresses its deep appreciation for all remitters and their invaluable contributions to the nation’s economy.
Additionally, with the “Kalin Awurudu Vaasi” promotion, which coincides with Sri Lanka’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, 25 lucky winners will receive essential goods packs worth Rs. 25,000 each. Through this initiative, People’s Bank reaffirms its support for Sri Lankan expatriates by helping them celebrate the New Year with their families, ensuring they feel connected and appreciated during this special time of the year.
In May, in conjunction with the “Shrama Harasara” initiative, initiated to commemorate International Labour Day, clients who establish new Personal Foreign Currency Accounts (PFCAs) in May 2025 will qualify for significant advantages. This project highlights People’s Bank’s dedication to acknowledging and compensating the efforts of Sri Lankans working abroad, whose remittances substantially enhance the country’s foreign exchange reserves and economic growth.
On the 1st of July, in celebration of People’s Bank’s 64th anniversary, the “Sanwathsara Pranama” promotion will award 64 lucky winners with essential goods bags worth Rs. 15,000 each. The winners will be selected randomly from individuals who receive workers’ remittances directly into their People’s Bank accounts (FC/LKR) between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025. This initiative recognizes the vital contributions of expatriates and reaffirms the bank’s commitment to supporting their families in Sri Lanka.
In October, as part of its commitment to supporting the future of young savers, People’s Bank will introduce the “Doo Daru Pranama” initiative, rewarding minors who open “Ethera Udana” Minors’ Accounts between October 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Through a random draw, two winners from each branch will receive specially designed “Ethera Udana” school equipment sets worth Rs. 5,000 each. This initiative aims to encourage financial literacy among children while recognizing the efforts of Sri Lankan expatriates investing in their children’s future.
In addition to the monetary rewards, customers benefit from long-term advantages such as access to loans, overseas debit cards, credit cards, cost-effective remittance services competitive interest rates and online banking and mobile banking facilities. Through this array of products and services, People’s Bank provides essential banking solutions designed to simplify financial management for expatriates while helping them optimize their savings potential.
To address the particular requirements of expats, People’s Bank has introduced a range of foreign currency accounts in keeping with these initiatives. The bank makes sure that expatriates have many options they need to save and invest short term or long term for the future, from the “Ethera Isura” Personal Foreign Currency savings/fixed deposit account, “Ethera Isura Premier PFC Savings Account” to the “Ethera Udana” Personal Foreign Currency Minors’ Account, which is intended to fund kids’ education. Additionally, the bank offers chances for long-term financial growth through the “People’s FX Future Plus” Deposit. In addition, Bank encourages and promotes investments to the country via “Inward Investment Account (IIA)”.
For foreign exchange earners residing in Sri Lanka, Bank offers the Business Foreign Currency account and an extended savings product called BFCA slab-wise interest-yielding savings account.
People’s Bank has implemented a variety of foreign currency accounts to tailor to the unique needs of expatriates, in accordance with these initiatives. The bank ensures that expatriates have a variety of options to save and invest for the future, including the “Ethera Isura” Personal Foreign Currency savings/fixed deposit account, the “Ethera Isura Premier PFC Savings Account,” and the “Ethera Udana” Personal Foreign Currency Minors’ Account, which is designed to support the education of children. Furthermore, the “People’s FX Future Plus” Deposit provides an opportunity for long-term financial growth. The Bank provides the Business Foreign Currency account and an extended savings product known as the BFCA slab-wise interest-yielding savings account to foreign exchange earners who reside in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the Bank promotes and encourages investments in the country through the “Inward Investment Account (IIA).”
The Bank offers services such as Pre-Departure Loans for individuals preparing to travel abroad, ensuring that all essential financial requirements, from visa expenses to airfare, are satisfied. In addition, expatriates are eligible for a unique loan program that may be utilised for a variety of purposes, such as the acquisition of vehicles, housing, education, and renewable energy.
In conclusion, People’s Bank is dedicated to fostering lasting relationships with Sri Lankan expatriates while also offering financial solutions. The Bank is committed to enhancing the lives of expatriates and their families while simultaneously stimulating the national economy through exclusive promotions, tailored account options, and personalised assistance. The People’s Bank continues to cultivate trust, loyalty, and a promising future for expatriates and their home country through initiatives such as the People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai campaign.