India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were introduced in Sri Lanka and Mauritius on Monday through a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

Additionally, RuPay card services were also inaugurated in Mauritius on the same day. This launch will facilitate the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals traveling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius, as well as for Mauritian nationals traveling to India. Moreover, the extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will allow Mauritian banks to issue cards based on the RuPay mechanism, enabling the usage of RuPay cards for settlements in both India and Mauritius.

Prime Minister Modi hailed the event as a significant milestone for digital connectivity between India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, emphasizing the transformative impact of India's Digital Public Infrastructure. He stated, "India's Unified Payments Interface, i.e., UPI, is now performing a new responsibility - Uniting Partners with India. I believe that the UPI system joining Sri Lanka and Mauritius will benefit both countries."

India's leadership in Fintech innovation and Digital Public Infrastructure was underscored, with the Prime Minister emphasizing the importance of sharing India's development experiences and innovations with partner countries. The launch is expected to enhance digital connectivity between India, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, benefiting a wide cross-section of people through faster and seamless digital transactions.

The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Modi's vision of leveraging technology to strengthen bilateral ties and promote economic cooperation between nations. The Prime Minister's Office release had earlier highlighted India's strong cultural and people-to-people linkages with Sri Lanka and Mauritius, emphasizing the potential for mutual benefit through enhanced digital connectivity and transactional efficiency.