At NQBSA Out-competing Banks and Others

From Left to Right
Mr. Isuru Sirinimal Vice President, Technology at Epic Lanka Mr. Geethapriya Tillekeratne Head Judge – NBQSA 2023, Mr. Alanzo Doll Chairman BCS Sri Lanka, Mr. Sanjaya Amarasekara (PLC), Mr. Channa de Silva - Chief Executive Officer – LankaPay, Mr. Prabath Gunasena DGM - ICT ((PLC), Mr. Niranjan Selvanayagam (PLC), Ms. Gayani Hettiarachchi (PLC), Mr. Asanka Weerasena (PLC), Mr. Chamith Perera (PLC)

People’s Leasing Company PLC (PLC) is not only the market leader in Sri Lanka's non-banking financial services (NBFS) space but is also at the forefront of the digital transformation in the sector. Further solidifying this reputation, PLC’s digital process enablement and tech innovation initiatives were recognized with prestigious awards at the National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) – organized annually by the British Computer Society (BCS) Sri Lanka, and widely regarded as the most prestigious platform for achievements in software/digital services in the Island.

Accordingly, PLC won the Special Award for Best Digital Process Enabler of the Year, along with a Merit Award for In-house Development, recognizing the “PLC TOUCH” integrated total solution, which is PLC’s seamless integrated digital touch point for all customer needs. The Awards were presented to PLC at the NQBSA Awards Ceremony held recently and were accepted on behalf of the company by Mr.Prabath Gunasena – DGM ICT. Notably, PLC was the only non-banking financial institution to win such recognition at the NQBSA, out-competing other larger banks and its peers in the NBFS sector.

Mr. Shamindra Marcelline, CEO at PLC, commented on this significant milestone, stating, "Our journey into digital transformation began in 2021, driven by our unwavering commitment to our customers. We recognized the evolving shifts in consumer behavior and needs within the rapidly changing digital landscape. Understanding the potential of digital enablement for streamlining processes and enhancing service delivery, we have remained at the forefront of the industry in terms of innovation, adoption, and implementation of digital solutions for our valued customers. Receiving these prestigious awards, particularly the Best Digital Process Enabler accolade, validates our capacity for innovation and our dedication to providing a seamless customer experience. We seize this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to our customers and eagerly anticipate the introduction of many more groundbreaking and customer-centric digital solutions in the future."

The NQBSA Awards are highly competitive, with each candidate being rigorously scrutinized by a distinguished independent panel of expert judges. The award for Best Digital Process Enabler of the year is particularly coveted and hotly contested, as every participating candidate is automatically eligible for consideration for this very special open award. The decision to present this award is affected by a number of criteria including uniqueness of technologies, innovation, and trendsetting; value delivered to the organization and its social impact including UI/UX design, transparency, and impact on quality of life; functionalities and features including user convenience and process automation; and business impact including operational efficiency and resultant new business opportunities.

Emphasizing the significance of the award for Best Digital Process Enabler, Prabath Gunasena – DGM-ICT at PLC added, “The category for Best Digital Process Enabler is an open category, which means that we were not only competing against our peers in the NBFS arena but also against big banks and major players from other diverse sectors that may or may not be related to finance. This truly underscores our commitment to digital enablement both internally and externally, along with our thirst for innovation and seamless service delivery. Furthermore, as a responsible corporate citizen, we are also pleased to be contributing to the national drive towards digitalization, and also towards achieving our ESG goals, and furthering the national effort towards the UN SDGs through the reduction of paper use and energy consumption.”

This is not the first time that PLC has received recognition for its digital innovation and service delivery. In 2017, PLC emerged as the Gold Winner of the Financial Industry Category at APICTA 2017 in Bangladesh for its Selfecash solution. The same year, Selfecash also won the Gold Award in the Inhouse Category at the NBQSA, while also winning a Merit Award in the Financial Application Category for its ‘Margin Trading System’. Meanwhile, in 2016, the People’s General Insurance System (PGIns) won the Bronze Award at the NBQSA in the In-house Category. These achievements demonstrate PLC’s continued commitment to customer-centric solutions and digital enablement, pushing firmly towards the digital future.

People’s Leasing & Finance PLC, a licensed non-banking financial institution in Sri Lanka, is renowned for its innovation and unwavering commitment to providing tailored financial solutions. With a solid foundation, a diverse product portfolio, and a commitment to excellence, PLC has emerged as a leader in the financial services sector. As a subsidiary of People’s Bank, PLC continues to strengthen its position as a trusted and respected provider of financial services, fostering growth and prosperity for the people of Sri Lanka.