The Lotus Tower has become the inaugural site linked to a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates various attractions, cultural experiences, entertainment options, and commercial activities in Colombo.
On the previous day, PickMe introduced Colombo Connect, marking it as the first city-wide destination launched under its newly established PickMe Explore platform. This national digital ecosystem aims to unify attractions, experiences, events, and communities through a single technological interface.
The launch event took place at the Colombo Lotus Tower, with the Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, serving as the Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Shirantha Peries, Chairman of the Colombo Lotus Tower; travel writer and photojournalist Juliet Coombe; as well as other distinguished guests and members of the management teams from PickMe and the Lotus Tower.
As the first partner in this initiative, Colombo Lotus Tower aims to revolutionize how both residents and tourists interact with the capital city by digitally connecting attractions, dining, entertainment, retail, cultural sites, and transportation into a cohesive experience. The company anticipates that the fully developed ecosystem could contribute over Rs. 30 billion annually to the economy by prompting visitors to explore more of Colombo and extend their stay.
During his speech at the launch, PickMe’s CEO Jiffry Zulfer remarked, “Colombo possesses all the essential elements to become one of South Asia’s premier urban destinations. However, a platform that consolidates these diverse experiences has been lacking. At present, attractions, restaurants, museums, and entertainment venues operate in silos. Colombo Connect aims to change this by showcasing the city as an interconnected destination where each discovery leads to another.”
In conjunction with the introduction of Colombo Connect, PickMe also announced that its event discovery and ticketing service, previously known as PickMe Events, will now be rebranded as PickMe Explore. This new name signifies a broader vision that encompasses not just events, but also the array of destinations, attractions, experiences, and communities available on one digital platform.
As a national digital platform, PickMe Explore intends to unify destinations, attractions, experiences, and communities across Sri Lanka, with Colombo Connect serving as its first city-wide offering. This initiative illustrates how technology can enhance the discoverability of entire cities while fostering greater economic opportunities for local enterprises.
Through PickMe Explore, users will have the ability to discover tailored experiences, purchase tickets for attractions, access exclusive deals, and explore various destinations seamlessly.
Colombo Lotus Tower, as the first partner in the Colombo Connect initiative, acts as the initial digital gateway. Visitors can now purchase tickets to the tower via PickMe Explore, gain entry through QR codes, and commence their exploration from one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Current offerings include access to the Observation Deck and Pixel Bloom, which is South Asia’s first immersive and interactive digital art museum, with plans for additional attractions and experiences to join the ecosystem in the future.
According to PickMe, Colombo Connect has been crafted to encourage visitors to spend more time discovering the capital before venturing to other regions of Sri Lanka, thereby generating broader economic advantages across tourism, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and transport sectors. Tourism experts have noted that many international travelers arrive in Colombo only to depart shortly after for beach resorts, wildlife areas, or hill country, which limits the city’s economic potential despite its expanding hospitality and cultural offerings.
“If visitors can extend their stay in Colombo by just one extra day, the benefits will reach far beyond tourism,” the CEO stated. “Every additional stop supports local restaurants, attractions, retailers, hotels, transport services, and entrepreneurs. That is the essence of how interconnected cities foster shared economic development.”
The company estimates that the transactions generated through transportation, ticketing, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and other connected services could surpass Rs. 30 billion annually once the ecosystem is fully operational.
In today’s world, individuals often engage with cities primarily through their smartphones, discovering places, booking experiences, processing payments, and navigating their journeys digitally. Colombo Connect has been designed with this reality in mind. “Cities are increasingly competing based on the experiences they offer,” Zulfer added. “People no longer learn about cities through brochures; they explore them via digital platforms. By integrating mobility, attractions, entertainment, retail, and culture into a single ecosystem, we can enhance the visitor experience while enabling more businesses to benefit from the city’s growth.”
Prasad Samarasinghe, CEO of Colombo Lotus Tower, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, describing the landmark as the ideal entry point for a comprehensive city experience. “Lotus Tower has emerged as a defining symbol of Colombo, and we take pride in being the first digital gateway for Colombo Connect. From this location, visitors can start exploring not only the tower itself but also the broader experiences that make Colombo distinct. We anticipate that this partnership will motivate more individuals to discover the city in innovative and exciting ways, further supporting Colombo’s development as a premier tourism and lifestyle destination.”
Future expansions of Colombo Connect will encompass museums, cultural institutions, entertainment venues, event organizers, restaurants, nightlife establishments, retailers, and other tourism-related partners, thereby creating an increasingly interconnected urban ecosystem where users can discover experiences, access promotions, purchase tickets, arrange transport, and navigate the city through a trusted platform.
As PickMe Explore continues to develop, a similar model is expected to be rolled out across various destinations throughout Sri Lanka, linking travelers with the country’s attractions and experiences via a unified digital ecosystem.
“For over a decade, PickMe has been at the forefront of connecting individuals with transportation, merchants, and digital services,” Zulfer remarked. “Our next venture focuses on connecting people with experiences. Colombo Connect is the starting point of this journey, and through PickMe Explore, we aspire to create a platform that ultimately helps people uncover the very best that Sri Lanka has to offer.”
During the event, the CEO of PickMe was seen purchasing the first ticket for Colombo Connect at the Lotus Tower through PickMe Explore.
In attendance from left to right were Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Shirantha Peries, Chairman of Colombo Lotus Tower; Juliet Coombe, travel writer and photojournalist; and Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe.
Governor Hanif Yusoof addressed the audience at the gathering.
Photo Caption: Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe, speaking to attendees at the launch of Colombo Connect at Lotus Tower.
Source: Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
