Petula Wijesinghe: Building Bridges to Financial Inclusion Through Fintech
HER STORY. HER STRENGTH. BY: DR. SULOCHANA SEGERA
In a world where access to financial services remains uneven, Petula Wijesinghe is quietly reshaping the landscape through innovation, empathy, and purpose. As Co-Founder and Director of Fintech Digital (PVT) Ltd, she is at the forefront of delivering practical, scalable fintech solutions across Sri Lanka. With over 14 years of experience spanning banking and digital transformation, Petula’s journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to inclusion. From collaborating with regulators to empowering small businesses, her work is steadily bringing financial systems closer to the people who need them most.
Petula, take us back to the beginning. What first sparked your interest in financial services and digital transformation?
My interest in financial services began during my early career in banking, where I developed a strong appreciation for the role financial institutions play in supporting both individuals and businesses. It was an environment that felt purposeful and dynamic, and I was deeply engaged in the work. However, life took a different turn when I relocated overseas due to family commitments. Stepping away from my career was not an easy decision, but it gave me a completely new perspective. For the first time, I experienced financial services not as a professional, but as a customer navigating the system remotely. What stood out most was the difficulty in carrying out even simple banking tasks. Processes were often slow, fragmented, and lacked the seamless digital experience that other industries had already begun to offer. This contrast was striking. It made me realize how much potential there was for improvement, and how meaningful it could be to bridge that gap. That experience became a turning point. It sparked my interest in digital transformation and set me on a path to explore how technology could make financial services more accessible, intuitive, and customer-centric.
What inspired you to co-found Fintech Digital (PVT) Ltd?
The decision to co-found Fintech Digital came from recognizing a clear disconnect between evolving customer expectations and the capabilities of many financial institutions. While there was widespread acknowledgment of the need for digital transformation, execution often lacked the depth required to truly improve user experience. From my own experiences and industry exposure, it became evident that customers were not just looking for digital access, but for simplicity, speed, and convenience. Financial services needed to feel as seamless as any other digital interaction in daily life. I was particularly motivated by the opportunity to help organizations rethink how they design customer journeys. It was about reducing friction, simplifying processes, and creating experiences that people could engage with effortlessly. Co-founding the company was a step towards turning that vision into reality; bringing together industry knowledge and digital innovation to build solutions that are not only efficient but also genuinely user-friendly and inclusive.
Platforms like AnybanQ and QchatPay are impactful innovations. What problems were you most passionate about solving?
At the core of platforms like AnybanQ and QchatPay is a simple belief: financial services should not feel complicated or intimidating. They should integrate naturally into people’s daily lives. One of the main challenges we wanted to address was the friction in everyday financial interactions. Tasks such as onboarding, making payments, or even basic account management often involve too many steps and unnecessary complexity. This can discourage people from fully engaging with financial systems. We were also deeply focused on accessibility. Financial services should be available anytime and anywhere, without being limited by technical barriers or infrastructure constraints. With QchatPay, for example, we introduced a conversational approach, allowing users to interact with financial services as easily as sending a message. Ultimately, our goal was to humanize finance, to make it more intuitive, inclusive, and aligned with how people naturally interact with technology.
You’ve worked closely with banks and regulators. What has that journey been like?
Working with banks and regulators has been both insightful and grounding. It has given me a deeper understanding of the responsibility they carry in maintaining stability, security, and trust within the financial system. One of the key lessons has been recognizing the balance between innovation and regulation. While there is a natural level of caution, which is necessary, there is also a growing openness to innovation, especially when it demonstrably improves customer outcomes. What has stood out most is the importance of dialogue. Progress in financial services doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires continuous engagement, testing of ideas, and collaboration to find solutions that are both innovative and responsible. This journey has reinforced my belief that meaningful transformation comes from working within the system, building trust, and driving sustainable change over time.
Given Sri Lanka’s limited access to global online banking systems, what challenges are holding SMEs back from global participation?
Sri Lanka has made encouraging progress in digital banking, but there are still important gaps in awareness and adoption among the general public. While infrastructure is evolving, usage levels of existing tools, such as QR-based payments, remain below the threshold needed for widespread impact. This creates a foundational challenge. Without strong adoption of basic digital financial tools, it becomes difficult to transition into more advanced systems like open banking or global financial integration. Another challenge is accessibility. Many solutions assume a level of connectivity and device capability that is not always available, particularly in rural areas.
This is why our approach with QchatPay has been intentionally simple. Instead of building complex applications, we developed a web-based solution that works even on low-bandwidth networks and basic mobile devices. This ensures that even the smallest businesses can participate in the digital economy. Moving forward, the focus must be on encouraging adoption, building trust, and strengthening the foundation of digital financial usage. Once that is achieved, expansion into global systems becomes far more achievable.
Your work focuses on financial inclusion. What does “true access” mean to you?
To me, true access goes beyond availability. It means creating financial services that people can genuinely use with ease, regardless of their location, background, or level of digital literacy. A product may exist, but if it is complicated or difficult to navigate, it does not truly serve its purpose. Real inclusion happens when services are intuitive, reliable, and seamlessly fit into everyday life. It is about designing for everyone, from urban professionals to individuals in rural communities, ensuring that no one is excluded due to complexity or lack of familiarity with technology. Ultimately, true access is achieved when financial services feel natural, effortless, and empowering.
You are taking digital payment solutions across the country. What impact have you seen at the grassroots level?
The experience of working at the grassroots level has been incredibly revealing. One of the most important insights is that simplicity drives adoption. With QchatPay, we have seen small businesses quickly embrace digital payments when the process is straightforward and reliable. When barriers such as complex setup or technical requirements are removed, people are far more willing to engage. The most significant impact has been the confidence it builds. As users become comfortable with digital transactions, they begin to integrate them into their daily routines. This gradually reduces reliance on cash and improves operational efficiency for businesses. It is not just about technology; it is about creating a sense of trust and ease that encourages long-term behavioural change.
You’ve received both local and international recognition. What do these milestones mean to you?
Recognition is always humbling, but for me, it is not about the awards themselves. It is about the validation that the work we are doing is meaningful and creating tangible impact. These milestones serve as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with innovation. They encourage me to stay focused on solving real problems and continuing to improve the way people interact with financial services. It is also encouraging to see that efforts in financial inclusion and digital innovation are being recognized beyond local contexts, highlighting their broader relevance.
How have global exposures like the Australia Awards and U.S. Professional Fellowship shaped you?
These global experiences have been transformative both professionally and personally. Being recognized through initiatives like the Australia Awards and the U.S. Professional Fellowship affirmed that the work we are doing has significance beyond our immediate environment. They also provided an opportunity to observe how different countries approach fintech, regulation, and inclusion. This exposure broadened my perspective and offered valuable insights into what can be adapted or improved within our own context. On a personal level, engaging with diverse communities reinforced the importance of staying open-minded and continuously learning. It highlighted the value of collaboration and the strength that comes from exchanging ideas across borders. These experiences have shaped my approach, encouraging me to build solutions that are not only practical but also adaptable and globally relevant.
What advice would you give young women entering fintech?
My advice would be simple: start, even if you don’t feel fully ready. Fintech is a rapidly evolving space, and much of the learning happens through experience. While it has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, there is now a visible shift, with more women stepping into leadership and innovation roles. This creates space for new perspectives, which are essential for building inclusive solutions. Curiosity, consistency, and confidence are key. Women bring valuable insights into how financial services can be made more accessible and user-friendly, and those perspectives are increasingly needed. Most importantly, believe that you belong. You do not need permission to take part in the conversation. Your voice and ideas have value, and the industry is better when they are included.
