Cookie & Local Storage Policy
Last updated: June 2026
Summary: TipMe.lk uses cookies, browser local storage, and secure tracking technologies to verify your identity, secure checkout sessions, prevent bot spam, and remember your language choice. We do not use cookies for behavioral ad tracking.
1. Overview
This policy outlines the technical and non-technical aspects of cookies, local storage tracking, and session technologies employed on TipMe.lk. By using the Platform, you consent to the storage and retrieval of these tracking elements on your browser.
2. Detailed Tracking & Storage Mechanics
We categorize our tracking mechanisms based on their technical function and usage on the Platform:
A. PHP Session Cookie (`PHPSESSID`)
Technical Mechanism: A transient HTTP-only session cookie stored on your browser. It points to a temporary session file on our server holding your authenticated session ID.
Non-technical Purpose: It keeps you logged in as you navigate between dashboard pages. If you sign out or close your browser, this session cookie is automatically destroyed.
B. Translation Preference Cookie (`tipme_lang`)
Technical Mechanism: A persistent client-side cookie with an expiry date set to 30 days (`max-age=2592000`). It holds the language code indicator (e.g., `en`, `si`, `ta`).
Non-technical Purpose: It remembers if you chose English, Sinhala, or Tamil. This ensures that next time you visit TipMe, the page is rendered in your chosen language automatically.
C. Cloudflare Turnstile Bot Protection Cookies
Technical Mechanism: Script-driven tracking cookies (`__cf_bm`, `cf_clearance`) injected during the Cloudflare Turnstile verification challenge.
Non-technical Purpose: Used to distinguish human visitors from automated bot traffic to protect forms against spam submissions and denial of service attacks.
D. Browser Local Storage Key (`pwa_prompt_dismissed_at`)
Technical Mechanism: Client-side browser local storage dictionary key holding a Unix timestamp representation of when the PWA prompt was dismissed.
Non-technical Purpose: If you dismiss the "Add to Home Screen" app installer banner, we remember that decision for 30 minutes. This prevents the banner from constantly popping up and interrupting your experience.
3. Third-Party Advertising and Tracking Cookies
Yes. TipMe.lk employs advertising tracking technologies and pixels provided by third-party social media and advertising networks to optimize promotional campaigns, trace conversions, and build lookalike audiences. These include:
A. Meta (Facebook) Pixel Cookies
Technical Mechanism: Cookies (e.g. `_fbp`, `_fbc`) placed on your browser by Meta scripts to attribute registration and platform interaction events back to active Facebook ads.
Non-technical Purpose: Used to measure advertisement performance on Facebook and Instagram and present relevant tipping platform promotions to you.
B. Google Analytics & Ads Remarketing Cookies
Technical Mechanism: Analytical cookies (e.g. `_ga`, `_gid`, `__gads`) tracking session flow characteristics and registration conversion signals.
Non-technical Purpose: Assists us in tracking how visitors arrive on the site and measuring conversion stats for Google Ads campaigns.
C. TikTok Pixel Cookies
Technical Mechanism: Client-side script triggers (e.g. `_tt_enable_cookie`) tracking page views and conversion metrics on our site.
Non-technical Purpose: Measures the effectiveness of our campaigns on the TikTok application and builds target audiences.
4. How to Manage and Disable Cookies
You have the right to refuse or delete cookies. You can manage cookies directly in your browser's security or settings panel:
- In Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
- In Mozilla Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data.
- In Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data.
Warning: Disabling essential session cookies will prevent you from logging in, creating accounts, or performing payouts on TipMe.lk.
5. Contact us
If you have any questions regarding our cookie practices, please contact our data team at support@tipme.lk.