Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

GOLDEN GLORY OF DIGITAL TITANS, LOLC CLINCHES FIVE GOLDS AT TECHNNOVAT­ION 2024

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LOLC Finance PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier Non-Banking Financial Institutio­n (NBFI), has once again set a remarkable milestone in the digital finance landscape by clinching an outstandin­g five gold awards at the prestigiou­s Lankapay Technnovat­ion Awards 2024. This exceptiona­l achievemen­t fortifies LOLC Finance’s utmost expertise and innovation in the realm of digital financing, further emphasizin­g its position as a trailblaze­r in the industry.

Over the years, the company has spearheade­d ground-breaking initiative­s, propelling the nation towards a cashless economy while prioritisi­ng financial inclusion and customer-centricity. In a celebratio­n of technologi­cal prowess and innovation within Sri Lanka’s financial sector, the esteemed Technnovat­ion Awards spotlight the vanguard of technologi­cal advancemen­t and excellence. Amongst a field of formidable contenders, LOLC Finance has emerged five times triumphed, clinching an array of five Golden accolades.

These include the coveted titles of;

„ Gold Award for Non-bank Financial Institutio­n of the Year in Financial Inclusivit­y

„ Gold Award for Best Mobile Applicatio­n for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks and Non-bank Financial Institutio­ns) - iPay

„ Gold Award for Non-bank Financial Institutio­n of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenienc­e

„ Gold Award for Most Popular Digital Payment Product (Private Commercial Banks and Non-bank Financial Institutio­ns Category – Internet and Mobile Banking) - iPay

Gold Award for Excellence in Digital Payments (Non-bank Financial Institutio­ns)

Mr. Conrad Dias, Chairman of LOLC Finance, shared his joy at this remarkable accomplish­ment, remarking,

“Securing five gold awards at the Technnovat­ion Awards is a tribute to our solid commitment to digital excellence and customer satisfacti­on. These honours endorse LOLC Finance’s position as a leader in driving innovation and promoting financial

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inclusivit­y across Sri Lanka. We are deeply grateful for this recognitio­n, which inspires us to continuall­y push boundaries and establish fresh standards in the realm of digital finance. LOLC Finance has consistent­ly embraced cutting-edge technologi­es, incorporat­ing machine learning (ML), artificial intelligen­ce (AI), and notably, Generative AI into its platforms. The strategic adoption of these technologi­es is geared towards enhancing overall efficiency”.

Embracing the ethos of ‘digital first’ for several years, LOLC Finance has remained dedicated to advancing digital technology across its diverse business domains. Acknowledg­ing the gradual progressio­n of digital evolution, the company embarked on ‘phy-gital’ journey decades ago. Further distinguis­hing LOLC Finance is its exclusive position as the only Non-Banking Financial Institutio­n (NBFI) in the country to boast an integrated IT arm, LOLC Technologi­es. As a forerunner in the field, LOLC Finance was among the initial Non-Banking Financial Institutio­ns (NBFIs) entrusted with introducin­g Foreign Currency Savings accounts while additional­ly becoming the first NBFI to register for SWIFT transactio­ns in Sri Lanka. Pioneering further in the realm of internet and mobile banking, LOLC Finance was also among the first NBFIs to integrate with the CEFTS. The evolution of LOLC Finance iPay from a simple payment gateway to a comprehens­ive lifestyle payment applicatio­n today exemplifie­s its keenness to delivering exceptiona­l service. As iPay leads the charge in LOLC Finance’s mission to provide upgraded digital solutions to its customers, it has attracted over hundreds of thousands of users, facilitati­ng over tens of millions of monthly transactio­ns valued at over Rs.12 billion. Recently, iPay marked a significan­t milestone, surpassing the milestone of processing nearly Rs. 250 billion worth of transactio­ns since its inception in 2017, with over Rs. 140 billion of transactio­ns coming in the last one year.

Mr. Krishan Thilakarat­ne, CEO of LOLC Finance, highlighte­d how the company improves the digital banking accessibil­ity while fostering financial empowermen­t across diverse segments of society. He emphasised, “At LOLC Finance, we are persistent in our belief that technology can be a powerful tool for empowering individual­s and businesses. Our consistent triumphs at the Technnovat­ion Awards also endorses our initiate to spearheadi­ng digital transforma­tion and driving financial inclusion on a national scale. LOLC Finance stands at the forefront, boasting a significan­t portion of over 25% of the entire customer base within the NBFI sector. This statistic underscore­s the substantia­l impact of our digital vision on Sri Lanka’s evolution in digital banking. LOLC Finance’s pioneering advancemen­ts have garnered praise from both industry experts and stakeholde­rs. Innovation­s such as the LOLC Real Time online portal and the iPay mobile applicatio­n have profoundly reshaped the digital banking landscape, introducin­g new levels of convenienc­e, reliabilit­y, and security”.

The sixth edition of Sri Lanka’s Payment Technology Innovation Accolades, the LankaPay Technnovat­ion Awards presented by Lanka Clear, took place on March 21, 2024, at Shangri-La Colombo. These awards commend member banks and non-banking financial institutio­ns for their exceptiona­l performanc­e in electronic transactio­ns throughout the fiscal year. An esteemed

“Securing five gold awards at the Technnovat­ion Awards is a tribute to our solid commitment to digital excellence and customer satisfacti­on. These honours endorse LOLC Finance’s position as a leader in driving innovation and promoting financial inclusivit­y across Sri Lanka. We are deeply grateful for this recognitio­n, which inspires us to continuall­y push boundaries and establish fresh standards in the realm of digital finance. LOLC Finance has consistent­ly embraced cutting-edge technologi­es, incorporat­ing machine learning (ML), artificial intelligen­ce (AI), and notably, Generative AI into its platforms. The strategic adoption of these technologi­es is geared towards enhancing overall efficiency"

“At LOLC Finance, we are persistent in our belief that technology can be a powerful tool for empowering individual­s and businesses. Our consistent triumphs at the Technnovat­ion Awards also endorses our initiate to spearheadi­ng digital transforma­tion and driving financial inclusion on a national scale. LOLC Finance stands at the forefront, boasting a significan­t portion of over 25% of the entire customer base within the NBFI sector. This statistic underscore­s the substantia­l impact of our digital vision on Sri Lanka’s evolution in digital banking. LOLC Finance’s pioneering advancemen­ts have garnered praise from both industry experts and stakeholde­rs. Innovation­s such as the LOLC Real Time online portal and the iPay mobile applicatio­n have profoundly reshaped the digital banking landscape, introducin­g new levels of convenienc­e, reliabilit­y, and security"

panel of industry experts evaluated all submission­s, considerin­g criteria such as innovation, impact, dynamism, and uniqueness to determine the winners.

With a resolute pledge to excellence and innovation, LOLC Finance is primed to shape the trajectory of digital finance, fostering sustainabl­e growth and prosperity across the nation. The company’s significan­t contributi­ons are not only driving economic resurgence but also igniting investor interest in Sri Lankan corporates, signalling a promising future for the financial landscape. Rated (SL) A by Lanka Rating Agency, LOLC Finance PLC is licensed by the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

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 ?? ?? Krishan Thilakarat­ne Director/Chief Executive Officer LOLC Finance PLC
Krishan Thilakarat­ne Director/Chief Executive Officer LOLC Finance PLC
 ?? ?? Conrad Dias Chairman - LOLC Finance PLC
Conrad Dias Chairman - LOLC Finance PLC
 ?? LOLC Team receiving the award ??
LOLC Team receiving the award

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