HNB Assurance PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Lakshman Silva and Dr. Sankalpa Gamwarige as Independent Non-Executive Directors to its Board with effect from 1 January 2024.
Mr. Lakshman Silva is the former CEO/Director of DFCC Bank PLC. He started his professional career at the Department of Inland Revenue of Sri Lanka and joined the DFCC Banking Group in 1987. He was seconded to the service of DFCC Vardhana Bank in 2003 and functioned as Chief Operating Officer until his appointment as CEO/Executive Director in January 2010. Held the position of Deputy CEO /Director of DFCC Bank PLC from October 2015 and was appointed as CEO /Director in August 2017.
Until his retirement in December 2021, he was Chairman of DFCC Consulting Ltd., Lanka Industrial Estates Ltd., and Synapsys Ltd. (subsidiary companies of DFCC Bank PLC) as well as the Chairman of Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd. and Sri Lanka Banks' Association (Guarantee) Ltd. He also held the position of Chairman of Acuity Partners Ltd., the joint venture company of DFCC Bank PLC. In addition, he was Chairman/Director of Lanka Ventures Ltd., LVL Energy Fund PLC and Director LankaClear Ltd.
Silva was a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), and Board of Management of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
At present he serves as an Independent Director at Seylan Bank PLC, Independent Director of Finetech Consultancy Ltd, while serving as Chairman and Director of Panasian Power PLC and its subsidiary companies. He also serves as Member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Silva is a past President of the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka. He holds a BCom (Sp.) from the Kelaniya University and an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the Sri Jayewardenepura University. He is an Associate Member of the Association of Development Financial Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).
Dr. Sankalpa Gamwarige, PhD is an Innovative Digital Transformational specialist and Tech Talent Enabler with a 20+ year Digital Product Engineering and Electronics Engineering background. He is a member of Global Leadership team of Nagarro, a Digital Product Engineering Company Listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, with a global team of over 19,000 Digital Specialists across 35 different countries.
Prior to joining Nagarro, he was General Manager and Vice President of Engineering at Zone 24x7 a family-owned Digital Product Company with Operations in USA, UK, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. During his 16 years of Engineering Leadership career at Zone24x7, he led the teams towards: overall winner of the National Best Quality Software Award (NBQSA) 2015, winner of R&D category at Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2015, Presidential Awards for the highest Value-Added Exporter of the Hi-tech/Innovative Sector 2014, 2015 and 2016. Sankalpa has contributed many US Patents filed and owned by Zone24x7. Further, the academic papers published by him based on his PhD research have been extensively cited.
Sankalpa has voluntarily contributed to many national initiatives and forums including SLASSCOM, TRACE, National Innovation Agency (NIA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Export Development Board (EDB), Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), serving in various capacities such as Advisory and Board level. In addition, he is/was a member of the Board of Studies - Faculty of Graduate Studies and Academic Committee of BIT external degree program – Faculty of IT, Moratuwa University.
Sep
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) proudly joins hands with the rest of the industry to mark Insurance Month 2025, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the dreams, aspirations and financial security of Sri Lankans across the nation.In recent years, HNB Assurance has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the sector, consistently delivering growth while earning the trust of its policyholders. Guided by a customer-first philosophy, the company has expanded its reach, refined its service delivery, and invested in technology to ensure protection remains accessible and relevant in today’s fast-changing world.Sharing his thoughts on the significance of Insurance Month, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director / CEO of HNB Assurance, stated, “Insurance Month is more than a celebration, it is a reminder of the vital role our industry plays in strengthening the resilience of individuals, families, and businesses. At HNB Assurance, we remain dedicated to deepening trust, driving awareness and creating value for our stakeholders through innovative solutions and a strong service ethos.”In terms of providing innovative solutions, HNB Assurance has been at the forefront of product innovation, introducing solutions tailored to evolving customer needs. Among its recent additions are Family Guard and Privileged Fast.“Our product philosophy has always been centered on people, their aspirations, their concerns and future. By continuously listening to our customers and understanding their requirements, we are able to create solutions that not only safeguard them from risk but also empower them to live with confidence.”, added, Mr. Wimalaratne.This year’s celebrations also come on the back of multiple recognitions for HNB Assurance, including being named the Best Life Insurance Company by Global Brands Magazine UK, winning the Life Insurance Sector Award at the National Business Excellence Awards, being recognized as the Best Life Bancassurance Provider, receiving the Great Place to Work Certification and being honored as one of Sri Lanka’s Most Outstanding Women-Friendly Workplaces. Collectively, these accolades not only highlight the trust and confidence placed in HNB Assurance but also serves as a testament to the way the company continues to celebrate its people, its customers and its journey forward.As the company looks ahead, it remains committed to advancing the industry through customer-centric innovation, meaningful partnerships and sustainable practices. With Insurance Month serving as a platform to raise awareness and celebrate achievements, HNB Assurance continues to stand as a trusted partner in protection for all Sri Lankans.
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Aug
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA), one of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance providers, has once again been honoured as one of the nation’s most outstanding women-friendly workplaces at the 2025 Satynmag Women Friendly Workplace Awards. This accolade, which marks the fourth such recognition for HNBA, underscores the organisation’s enduring dedication to creating an inclusive, progressive and empowering work environment for women across all levels of the company.The Women Friendly Workplace Awards are designed to spotlight corporations that actively promote gender equity, cultivate inclusive leadership, and champion the advancement of women within the corporate sphere. In receiving this recognition year after year, HNB Assurance continues to demonstrate that its policies and practices are not only consistent but also continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of a modern workforce.“At HNB Assurance, we believe that an enlightened workplace is one where every individual, and especially women, feel empowered to grow, contribute and innovate,” said Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director / CEO of HNB Assurance. “This recognition reflects not only our dedication to embedding best-in-class HR practices, but also our conviction that true organisational strength is forged through women-friendly policies, inclusive leadership, equitable opportunity and a culture that celebrates and cultivates excellence. My sincere thanks to Satynmag for this recognition. We are honoured to be recognised as a women-friendly workplace and remain steadfast in our commitment to setting new benchmarks for empowering women in Sri Lanka.HNBA’s Head of Human Resources / DGM, Mr. Navin Rupasinghe, reflected on the achievement stating “Over the years, we have introduced a series of targeted initiatives from wellbeing programmes and leadership mentoring to structured training and responsive grievance mechanisms which go beyond symbolic gestures and instead create a tangible impact in the everyday professional lives of our employees. Winning this accolade for the fourth time assures us that these interventions are not only appreciated externally, but are also deeply resonant internally, helping us to build trust and loyalty across the organisation. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the in.she committee, whose contributions have been pivotal in translating our vision into meaningful action, and who continue to drive the progress that we are proud to celebrate today.”
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Aug
HNB Assurance PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing insurance providers, has been recognized as the Best Life Insurance Company – Sri Lanka 2024 by Global Brands Magazine, UK. This international accolade emphasizes HNBA’s position as a strong player within the life insurance sector, continuously raising the bar in customer experience, innovation and industry excellence.Throughout the year, HNBA has been celebrated with numerous local and international accolades, including being named the Insurance Sector Winner at the National Business Excellence Awards and Runner-up for Excellence in Local Market Reach (National Level). The Company has also been recognized as the Best Life Bancassurance Provider by the Global Banking and Finance Review for five consecutive years, listed among the top 40 Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka and ranked 09th among large scale work places by Great Place to Work, honored as Sri Lanka’s Most Outstanding Women Friendly Workplace 2024 and acknowledged as a Company with Great Managers.These recognitions highlight the balance of HNBA’s focus on business performance, the strength of its people, and a culture that empowers growth, the very foundations that have made the Company one of the strongest and most respected players in the insurance industry today.Speaking about the award, Mr. Lasitha Wimalarathne, Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance, stated, “Being recognized as the Best Life Insurance Company by Global Brands Magazine is an honor, as this award validates the collective efforts of our dedicated team and our commitment to protecting the dreams and aspirations of our policyholders. Our journey of growth and recognition is driven by a simple principle, keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do, while embracing innovation and building trust across every interaction. Our strong financial performance reflects this and gives us the confidence to expand further in delivering meaningful protection to all Sri Lankans. My sincere thanks to the Global Brands Magazine for this recognition and I dedicate this award to every single person who is a part of the HNBA family.”
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