Business

LOLC, first Sri Lankan company to be recognised with CIO 100 Award

Published

6 years ago

2020/09/29

The LOLC Group technology team with the CIO 100 Award

LOLC Holdings PLC has been listed among 100 honourees for 2020 among a list of esteemed global organisations at the annual CIO 100 Awards. It is the first time that a Sri Lankan company has been bestowed with the CIO 100 Award.

Meanwhile, Conrad Dias, LOLC’s former Group Chief Information Officer and current Director/CEO of LOLC Finance PLC and Director LOLC Holdings PLC was selected as one of the 11 CIO Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 out of a pool of global CIOs, becoming the 1st Sri Lankan CIO to be recognised to the Global CIO Hall of Fame.

The CIO 100 Awards celebrates 100 organizations and the teams within them that are using technology in novel ways to deliver innovative and ground-breaking solutions to customers. The award is a global hallmark of enterprise excellence. This year, LOLC was listed among some of the most renowned global corporates such as Bank of America Corporation, General Electric, GSK, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Mastercard, Nestle, Schniederand and many more. According to CIO 100, this year’s honourees exemplify what it means to deliver business value through the innovative use of technology. While announcing the winners, CIO 100’s editors noted that LOLC and other honourees “exemplify what it means to deliver business value through the innovative use of technology. This elite group is creating competitive advantage in their organizations, improving business processes, enabling growth and improving relationships with customers”.

The LOLC Group, which is primarily involved in providing financial services for customers at the bottom of the wealth pyramid has always been at the forefront of technological innovations. As part of this ‘digital-drive’, the company understood the need to disrupt its own business model and adopt technological capabilities to innovate and challenge traditional business models, in order to stay ahead of its competition, both locally and internationally. The foundation was laid with the creation of a ‘digital twin’ to our existing business model, challenging the status-quo and driving towards a digital transformation of our business. The result was the launch of iPay – a platform beyond payments that has revolutionised the Fin-Tech space for both customers and merchants. The iPay ecosystem operates with the vision of democratising payments, money transfers, electronic commerce, banking, lending, insurance, advertising and many other services. It also empowers merchants, providing them with a low-cost digital marketing and selling platform, allowing start-ups and other small scale businesses to play a more active role in the economy. Today, iPay has reached beyond Sri Lanka to other geographies, slowly becoming a regional platform, which can be identified as the LOLC Group’s Fin-Tech Playbook.

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Business

Sri Lanka secures IMF staff-level deal for USD 700 million tranche

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund to secure the next tranche of funding under its ongoing bailout programme, marking a key step in the country’s fragile economic recovery.

The agreement, announced this week, will enable Sri Lanka to access approximately USD 700 million, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. The funds form part of the USD 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme agreed following the 2022 economic crisis.

The latest development covers the combined fifth and sixth reviews of Sri Lanka’s reform programme, indicating that the country has made sufficient progress to move forward, while highlighting the need to sustain reform efforts.

Sri Lanka’s economy has shown signs of stabilisation in recent months, supported by improved revenue collection, easing inflation, and a gradual buildup of foreign reserves. However, the recovery remains vulnerable to both domestic and external pressures.

By Ifham Nizam

Business

Israeli attack on Lebanon triggers local stock market volatility

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Initially CSE trading was somewhat volatile despite the ceasefire in West Asia but it experienced further volatility after Israel attacked Lebanon yesterday.

However, the IMF delegation which is now in Sri Lanka to release two tranches of its relief package created some positive sentiments for the market, analysts said.

The All Share Price Index went down by 73.06 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 10.57 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 2.96 billion with six crossings. Those crossings were: JKH 5.5 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 807.6 million and its shares traded at Rs 19.70, CIC Holdings two million shares crossed for Rs 54 million; its shares traded at Rs 32, Access Engineering 600,000 shares crossed for Rs 44.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 74, Central Finance 116,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 27.5 million ; its shares sold at Rs 237, LMF 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 22.8 million; its shares fetched Rs 91.10 and Kelani Cables 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 21 million and its shares traded at Rs 105.

In the retail market seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Dialog Rs237 million (7.5 million shares traded), LMF Rs 203 million (22 million shares traded), Colombo Dockyard Rs 199.7 million (1.1 million shares traded), HBA Foods Rs 163 million (18.5 million shares traded), JKH Rs 156 million (7.8 million shares traded), JKH Rs 156 million (7.8 million shares traded), Softlogic Holdings Rs 117 million (9.6 million shares traded) and Acme Printers Rs 107 million (15.6 million shares traded). During the day 133.3 million share volumes changed hands in 23666 transactions.

It is said that manufacturing sector counters, like JKH, performed well, while food sector counters, especially LMF and HBA Foods, performed well. Other sectors too performed somewhat well during the day.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted a Rs 315.42/48 to the US dollar in the spot market from 315.30/40 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were quoted higher.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Business

HNB Assurance marks 25 years with strategic transformation to ‘HNB Life’

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Highlights from the new brand reveal as HNB Assurance transforms into HNB Life

Marking 25 years of trust, growth, and service excellence, HNB Assurance PLC has unveiled its new corporate identity, transitioning to HNB Life PLC a strategic evolution that reflects the company’s forward-looking vision and commitment to empowering lives with protection and the freedom to thrive, no matter where life takes them.

This milestone signifies more than a change in name or visual identity. It represents a deliberate transformation shaped by strong performance over the past few years, during which the company has achieved remarkable growth, strengthened its market position and enhanced its customer-centric capabilities.

The newly introduced logo, inspired by the form of a wing, symbolises HNB Life’s role as a proactive enabler. It reflects the organisation’s commitment to supporting individuals in navigating life’s journey with confidence, empowering them to pursue their aspirations and live life on their own terms.

The official unveiling took place at a launch event attended by key stakeholders, strategic business partners, well-wishers and employees.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman, Stuart Chapman highlighted the significance of this transformation, stating, “As we mark 25 years of progress, the transition to HNB Life reflects our strategic intent to evolve with the changing needs of our customers and the broader market. This new identity embodies our purpose, to enable and empower individuals to achieve what they truly aspire to in life, with confidence and security. As a company we are extremely excited on what the future holds for as, as we build on an incredible foundation laid over the past two and a half decades.”

The new Vision of the Company is “To be the leader in empowering lives with protection and freedom to thrive, no matter where life takes them”.