Mr. Shiraz Refai – Head of Alternate Financial Services, LOLC Finance PLC
Krishan Thilakaratne – Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer-LOLC Finance PLC

LOLC Al-Falaah was felicitated with two prominent awards within the Islamic Banking and Finance services sector in Sri Lanka, at the 11th edition of the SLIBFI (Sri Lanka Islamic Banking and Financial Institution) awards. Securing the GOLD award for ‘Leasing Company of the Year’ and GOLD award for ‘Window of the Year’ were significant, as LOLC Al-Falaah have won these awards consecutively over the years. Whilst receiving the Bronze award for ‘Entity of the Year’, an innovative product option ‘Wakalah Speed-Draft’ launched earlier in the year
secured the Bronze award for ‘Product of the Year’. With the newest additions, Al-Falaah reaffirms the trust placed in them persistently, as the ‘Most awarded Alternate Financial services provider in Sri Lanka.

LOLC AL-Falaah is the alternate financial services brand of LOLC Holdings PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified multinational conglomerate with operations in 22 countries in Asia and Africa. The brand dominates the alternate financial services segment in Sri Lanka, as a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) of LOLC Finance PLC (LOFC), Sri Lanka’s largest Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI). LOLC Al-Falaah, has a strong brand identity and brand acceptance with a history of over 15 years within the industry. Al-Falaah performed strongly in 2021/22 to record an impressive Finance portfolio growth of over 51% reaching Rs. 23.44 Bn from its previous year’s book of Rs. 15.47 Bn while sustaining a Deposits portfolio of Rs. 12.52 Bn. Committed to safeguarding investors, LOLC Al-Falaah has distributed Profits to Depositors amounting to Rs. 735 Mn, and secured a 36% increase in Profit before Tax, demonstrating a strong stature despite the volatile
economic conditions during the year.

Commenting on the remarkable achievement Director/ Chief Executive Officer of LOLC Finance PLC, Mr. Krishan Thilakaratne said; “these constant awards we receive reinstates that LOLC Al-Falaah is ahead of the curve in terms of market leadership, innovation and trust, under the umbrella of the largest NBFI in the country, LOLC Finance. We compete even with other banks because of its sound portfolio quality which is 100% asset backed. Our non-performing loans too are the lowest in the industry which reflects the credit quality and professional
management of our finances”.

Also commenting, Mr. Shiraz Refai, Head of Alternate Financial Services, LOLC Finance said, “Our commitment to ensuring our Customers financial needs are tailor-made to modern-day complex requirements, together with emphasis on determination and attention-to-detail, customer care service offered by LOLC Finance staff are the key reasons that we were honoured by these multiple awards. On behalf of the Team, we’re honoured to receive ‘Leasing Company of the Year–Gold’ and ‘Window of the Year-Gold’ for the third and second consecutive years respectively and recognition for both Entity of the Year and Product of the Year’. I believe that our performance and recognition roots from the trust and confidence that our Customers have placed in us, together with the untiring efforts of our professional staff members.”

The awarding ceremony was concluded on the 14th of October 2022 at Ramada Hotel, Colombo. The awarding body, UTO EduConsult (UTO), an organization with a long-reputed history, has initiated this awarding event to acknowledge and to recognise the efforts made by the Islamic Banking and Financial sector in Sri Lanka. In awarding the titles, the applicants profiles have been reviewed and accessed based on their audited financial data pertaining to the year under consideration, by a reputed panel of judges.

LOLC Al-Falaah functions directly under the auspices of LOLC Finance PLC, with a total network of 210 branches, and an active customer base of over 600,000, a total lending portfolio amounting to over Rs. 200 Bn, coupled with a deposit base of over Rs. 180 Bn. LOLC Finance which is a Regulated Finance Company of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is rated [SL] A STABLE by ICRA Lanka Limited.