HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2022 by honoring and paying tribute to its female colleagues. HNBA and HNBGI as leading Life and General Insurance service providers in the country, have taken a number of measures to create equality, diversity and inclusion within the two organizations and promoting a healthy, work-life balance for all its staff members. Extending his wishes on International Women’s Day, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA stated, “Every year on the 8th of March we celebrate the spirit of womanhood and laud their leadership traits, achievements, strength and courage, but in reality, the spirit of womanhood should be celebrated 24 x 7 x 365 as women are the guardians of our families, society and economy. In an effort to create and promote a culture of equality and inclusion and to make a real difference, HNBA has launched several initiatives and programs, especially to empower and motivate women at all levels to reach their career aspirations and goals. For striving to create a meaningful difference, HNBA was recognized among the Top 10 Women Friendly Workplaces in Sri Lanka at Women Friendly Workplaces Awards 2021 organized by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. This recognition augurs well for all our efforts to create a happy and safe workplace for all staff members. Mr. Wimalaratne continued, “In celebration of International Women’s Day, HNBA together with HNBGI launched Liya Harasara, offering a range of exclusive benefits for women during the month of March and April. HNBA will always be committed to doing what’s right and standing for its core values and beliefs and is committed to foster inclusion and equality and accelerate diversity for women to help reach great heights in their journey”. Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, Chief Executive Officer of HNBGI extended his wishes stating, “In today’s society, women play multiple roles amidst many challenges, barriers and hurdles with the ultimate objective of providing for their families and their loved ones. But most often, their contribution, hard work and dedication is undervalued and ignored by the society. It’s time we change this. Empowering women is essential to sustainability of any business and HNBGI will continue to empower women at all levels and create space to grow, shine and prosper”. Mr. Jayasundara added, “HNBGI is committed to further amplify the voices of women across the organization and drive a cultural change by bringing women to the forefront and highlight them for their achievements, commitment and hard work. Whilst extending my wishes this International Women’s Day, I wish to reiterate that HNBGI is committed to stand beside women, creating a safe and happy place for women to grow and achieve their career aspiration”. Mrs. Sitari Jayasundara, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Board Secretary of HNBA and HNBGI stated, “I wish to extend my wishes on this International Women’s Day to all brave and strong women and I urge all women to keep going forth and stay focused on their goals, as we’re courageous and unstoppable”. Ms. Punsirini Perera, Chief Financial Officer of HNBA and HNBGI extended her wishes stating, “Women are strong, women are confident, and women are real go-getters. Over the years, as women we have achieved many milestones together and made history and let’s continue to do so and let nothing hold you back”. Sharing her views on International Women’s Day, Mrs. Geethani Saram, Head of Procurement and Support Services of HNBA and HNBGI commented, “Women across the country have made great strides in their respective industries and as women we should support one another to overcome day-to-day challenges, hurdles and barriers women face and help each other shine and grow”. Head of Customer Experience of HNBA Mrs. Shaaza Ossen stated, “On this day let’s celebrate and applaud all our efforts and hard work and what we have achieved as women in our lives. Let’s continue to raise our voices and build a truly happy and safe place for all women across the country”. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 63 branches. HNBA is a Life Insurance company with a rating of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka for 'National Insurer Financial Strength Rating'. Following the introduction of the segregation rules by the Insurance Regulator, HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) was created and commenced its operations in January 2015; HNBGI continues to specialize in motor, non-motor and Takaful insurance solutions and is a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC. HNB General Insurance has been assigned a 'National Insurer Financial Strength Rating' of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited. HNBA is rated within the Top 100 brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance has won international awards for Brand Excellence, Digital Marketing and HR Excellence including the Great Place To Work® Certification, and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.
Jul
A key leadership announcement was made as Lasitha Wimalaratne has been appointed as an Executive Director/CEO of HNB Assurance PLC, while Sithumina Jayasundara has been appointed as an Executive Director/CEO of HNB General Insurance Limited.Both Lasitha Wimalaratne and Sithumina Jayasundara presently serve as the Chief Executive Officers of HNB Assurance PLC and HNB General Insurance Limited, respectively.Speaking on their appointment, Stuart Chapman, Chairman of HNB Assurance PLC and HNB General Insurance Ltd, stated “I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to both Lasitha and Sithumina on their appointment to the respective Boards. Their leadership and contributions to both companies have been instrumental in driving growth and stability across the businesses, and I am confident that their appointment will further strengthen our strategic direction and enhance shareholder value.”Lasitha Wimalaratne has overall over 27 years of career experience with 24 years in the field of Life Insurance inclusive of 7 years of multinational experience at Aviva and AIA groups and 3 years of retail Sales and Marketing exposure in London.Prior to joining HNB Assurance PLC he functioned as the General Manager - Life Operations and Specified Officer at Softlogic Life Insurance PLC. Lasitha Joined HNB Assurance PLC in 2019 and served in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer and Principal Officer prior to being appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC. Lasitha holds a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from the University of Wales, UK and a B. A. (Hons) Degree in Business Studies from the University of Sunderland, UK. He is a Chartered Insurer and a Fellow Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII). Lasitha is also a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK (ACIM). Lasitha functions as the President of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) and served as the President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute (SLII) for the period of 2019-2021. Further, he was the Founder Secretary General of the Chartered Insurance Professionals (ACIP) and served as a Council Member until March 2021. Lasitha also was a Board Director of Biodiversity Sri LankaSithumina Jayasundara, has over 27 years of experience in the Sri Lankan insurance landscape. His journey began with leadership roles in Non-Life insurance business at prestigious companies like Asian Alliance, MBSL, Janashakthi, and Eagle Insurance. He further broadened his expertise through international training programmes and conferences, specialising in Re-insurance. In 2014, Sithumina joined HNB General Insurance Limited, quickly rising through the ranks. He was appointed to the Group Executive Committee in 2015 and subsequently took on the responsibilities of Chief Technical Officer, Specified Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Principal Officer. Beyond his corporate achievements, Sithumina actively contributes to the industry’s development. He was the Past President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute (SLII) and is a founding Council Member of The Association of Chartered Insurance Professionals (ACIP) in Sri Lanka. He also serves on the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL). Sithumina’s academic qualifications are equally impressive. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, and is the Sri Lanka award winner of the Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII - UK) and is a Chartered Insurer. Additionally, he holds the Senior Associateship of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He also currently serves as a member of the Expert Advisory Committee for the InsurInnovator Connect Global Series Events – Asia 2025.
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Jul
HNB Assurance PLC was recognized by Parenthood Global as one of the Most Outstanding Mom-Inclusive Workplaces for the second year in a row. This prestigious accolade reflects the company’s continued commitment to creating an inclusive, empathetic and empowering work environment for mothers in the workforce.Going a step further, Parenthood Global also honored five exceptional mothers from HNB Assurance as Outstanding Mom Leaders, acknowledging their ability to excel both as professionals and as parents.At the heart of this recognition lies HNB Assurance’s consistent efforts to support working mothers through policies and initiatives that foster balance, growth, and wellbeing. The company has implemented several people-centric benefits such as extended maternity and paternity leave, caregiver leave, flexible working arrangements, wellness support, and reimbursement of professional development costs, all designed to help mothers navigate both career and family responsibilities with confidence.Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC, stated, “Being recognised for the second consecutive year as a mom-inclusive workplace is an incredible honor. At HNBA, we believe that empowering our people, especially working mothers, is key to building a resilient and compassionate organization. We are proud to have created a space where motherhood is embraced, not seen as a limitation, but as a strength that adds immense value to our culture and our success.”Ms. Navin Rupasinghe, Head of Human Resources at HNB Assurance PLC, also shared his thoughts on the recognition, “Our people are the heart of everything we do, and this award is a validation of the thoughtful and deliberate steps we have taken to ensure that mothers at HNBA feel seen, supported, and celebrated. From career mobility to emotional wellbeing, we are committed to enabling an ecosystem where our employees can thrive in all aspects of their lives, regardless of their background.”
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Jul
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) proudly launched HNB Assurance FamilyGuard, a comprehensive insurance product specifically designed for Sri Lankans employed overseas. The product aims to support migrant Sri Lankans by enabling them to build a reliable retirement fund while ensuring their loved ones back home are financially protected.FamilyGuard offers a well-rounded solution that blends long-term financial planning with robust life insurance protection. It provides a range of built-in benefits including Death Benefit, Accidental Death Benefit (ADB), Partial and Total Permanent Disability (PPD) and Waiver of Premium (WOP) due to either death or total permanent disability. These benefits are further complemented by flexible maturity options and a secure investment component designed to generate strong long-term returns, making FamilyGuard a practical and future-ready choice for overseas workers.“At HNB Assurance, we are continuously evolving to cater to the diverse and changing needs of our customers,” stated Lasitha Wimalarathne, CEO of HNB Assurance PLC. “The launch of FamilyGuard reflects our efforts to supporting the aspirations of Sri Lankans working overseas, who often sacrifice so much for the wellbeing of their families. This product is not only about protection, it is about planning for a dignified, financially secure future. We are also strategically equipping our business to be agile, responsive and innovation-led to meet these evolving customer needs.”Speaking about the strengths and features of the product, Dinesh Udawatta, Chief Technical Officer of HNB Assurance, noted, “FamilyGuard has been thoughtfully crafted with features that address the real-world risks faced by overseas workers. From comprehensive life coverage and disability protection to the Waiver of Premium option that ensures policy continuity during times of hardship, we have designed a solution that is both protective and empowering. Its investment element ensures that policyholders can systematically build a secure retirement fund while they are employed abroad.”Nalin Subasinghe, Chief Actuarial Officer of HNB Assurance, stated, “FamilyGuard has been priced to deliver great value to our policyholders. We have balanced affordability with long-term financial growth by optimizing premium allocation and minimizing frictional costs, allowing a greater portion of the customer’s contribution to be invested for high returns. This approach ensures that our overseas customers receive not just protection, but meaningful financial progress as they prepare for a secure retirement.”Customers can find out more about HNB Assurance FamilyGuard by vising www.hnbassurance.com or calling the company’s Assurance Line on 1301. Further, HNB Assurance PLC is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL) and customers are advised for more details on benefits, exclusions, terms and conditions, to read the policy document carefully before concluding a sale.
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