Business
Lolc Finance concludes a remarkable year with its highest profits ever recorded
LOLC Finance PLC, the largest non-banking financial institution in Sri Lanka has reported exceptional performance recording Rs.21.5 billion profits for the fiscal year 2023/24 with 39% YoY growth, representing an ROE of 20%. This outstanding performance underscores the company’s strategic excellence and robust market position, achieved through a series of strategic consolidations and a steadfast commitment to cost efficiency, digital transformation, and customer-centricity.
As at the end of the fiscal year, the Company reported a portfolio of Rs. 250 billion and a deposit base of Rs. 206 billion along with a capital base of Rs. 122 billion, the largest in the NBFI sector. Through these results, the company not only demonstrates its dominance in the non-banking financial industry but also its successful navigation through an evolving macroeconomic landscape and the company’s ability to adapt and thrive amidst challenges.
Over the past three years, LOLC Finance has successfully executed three significant mergers, solidifying its market leadership and expanding its operational footprint. These strategic consolidations have enhanced the company’s capabilities, diversified its product offerings, and increased its customer base. Each merger was meticulously planned and executed, ensuring seamless integration and the realization of substantial operational synergies in the forthcoming years.
A cornerstone of LOLC Finance’s strategy has been a relentless focus on cost efficiency. By optimizing operational processes and leveraging economies of scale, the company has been focusing on lowering its cost base.
This is reflected by the cost to income ratio of 40% and is expected to reduce further with the benefits of the merger being extracted. This focus on efficiency improvement has been complemented by a comprehensive digital transformation strategy. The company has invested heavily in cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions, streamlining operations, enhancing customer service, and improving overall business agility. The digital initiatives have not only driven cost savings but also positioned the company at the forefront of technological innovation in the financial services sector.
At the heart of LOLC Finance PLC’s success is its unwavering commitment to customer-centricity. The company has consistently prioritized understanding and meeting the evolving needs of its customers. By offering tailored financial solutions and exceptional customer service, LOLC Finance has built strong, enduring relationships with its clients. This customer-first approach has been instrumental in driving customer loyalty and retention, further reinforcing the company’s market leadership.
Assuming its role as an Economic Enabler for most parts of the segments in the economy, LOLC Finance PLC offers comprehensive lending portfolio, with an array of financial solutions, including auto finance, speed drafts, housing loans, mortgage loans, personal loans, corporate loans, working capital solutions, gold loans, educational loans, and flexi interest loans, among others. This diverse portfolio caters to the specific needs of individuals and enterprises across the economic spectrum.
Boasting over 230 branches across the island and a culturally diverse workforce, LOLC Finance stands prioritise personalized services to its wide-ranging customer base. Setting itself apart from other non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs), LOLC Finance offers doorstep services for clients, encompassing both service provision and post-credit disbursement support. The well-trained employee base of LOLC Finance contributes significantly to the organization’s exceptional service delivery.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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