Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

When you use patas.lk, we may collect and store the following information:

Personal information: Name, phone number, email address, and (when applicable) payment information.

Account activity: Listings you create, messages you send, and items you interact with.

Device and analytics data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and usage statistics such as page views and session duration.

Cookies and tracking data: Small text files that help us recognize your device, remember your preferences, and analyze traffic patterns.

If you provide personal information, you consent to its transfer and storage on our secure servers.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide and manage our marketplace services
• Facilitate communication between buyers and sellers
• Resolve disputes, process payments, and troubleshoot issues
• Improve user experience, performance, and content relevance
• Prevent fraud and enhance safety across the platform
• Send you updates, promotional offers, and newsletters (you can unsubscribe anytime)
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms & Conditions

3. Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function properly and improve your browsing experience by remembering preferences and recognizing returning users.

How We Use Cookies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Keep you signed in
• Remember your search preferences and display settings
• Analyze site performance and user behavior
• Deliver personalized ads and marketing messages

We may share limited, non-identifiable cookie data with trusted analytics and advertising partners (e.g., Google, Meta) to improve our service and ad performance.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies – Required for site operation and security.
• Preference cookies – Store your language and region settings.
• Analytics cookies – Measure site traffic and performance.
• Advertising cookies – Deliver relevant ads and limit repetitive messages.

You can clear or disable cookies at any time in your browser settings, though some site features may not function correctly.

4. Third-Party Services

We may use the following trusted third-party providers to support patas.lk's functionality, analytics, and communication features. Each provider follows its own privacy policy:

• Google Analytics
• Meta (Facebook & Instagram Ads)
• SendGrid or Mailgun (for email communication)
• Cloudflare or Vercel (for hosting and performance optimization)

These providers may collect or receive data to provide their respective services in compliance with applicable laws.

5. Disclosure of Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

We may disclose information:

• To comply with legal requests or enforce our policies
• To protect the rights, safety, or property of patas.lk, users, or the public
• To facilitate contact between buyers and sellers (e.g., sharing your email or phone number when you initiate a conversation or express interest in an ad)

By using patas.lk, you consent to such controlled sharing for legitimate transaction purposes.

6. Communication Preferences

By signing up, you agree to receive service updates and promotional messages related to patas.lk. You can manage or opt out of marketing communications by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails, or
• Contacting us at support@patas.lk

We do not permit spam, bulk messaging, or the use of patas.lk's communication tools for unsolicited advertising.

7. Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse, including:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure password storage
• Restricted access to personal information by authorized staff only

However, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. Users are encouraged to safeguard their login credentials and report suspicious activity immediately.

8. Your Rights

You may request to:

• Review the personal data we hold about you
• Update or correct your details
• Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")

Send requests to support@patas.lk, and we'll process them in accordance with Sri Lankan data protection guidelines.

9. Retention of Data

We retain your information only as long as necessary for operational, legal, or security purposes. When data is no longer needed, it will be safely deleted or anonymized.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. All updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of patas.lk after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact Us