HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) delivered another year of outstanding financial performance, securing a 7.5% market share and moving a step closer to achieving its ambitious target of 10% market share by 2026. This success was a result of the company’s well-structured strategies, focused on sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive landscape, which yielded impressive results, with its Gross Written Premium (GWP) growing by 26% compared to the previous year.
Over the past four years, HNBA has maintained an average growth rate of 26%, consistently outperforming the industry. A key element of HNBA’s approach has been prioritizing distinctive, value-driven products over high-volume, lower-margin offerings. This strategy has allowed the company to cater to a broader customer base, ensuring inclusivity while maintaining the competitiveness and relevance of its product portfolio
In terms of growth, HNBA’s proactive investment strategy resulted in an 8% growth in investment income, reaching Rs. 6.9 Bn, while Funds Under Management saw a 26% increase. HNBA paid net benefits and claims totaling Rs. 2.9 Bn. The total assets of the company expanded by 24% to Rs. 53.4 Bn, primarily driven by increased financial investments. Additionally, total Life Insurance contract liabilities grew by 25% to Rs. 38.6 Bn, following a surplus transfer of Rs. 1.3 Bn to shareholders.
Sharing his thoughts on the company’s remarkable performance, Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance PLC, stated, “Having effectively navigated challenges while prioritizing customer-centric solutions and driving solid business expansion, we are confident in reaching our 10% market share goal by 2026. Last year was an outstanding year for us, where, despite an increase in operating expenses due to IT infrastructure and software investment, we achieved a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 2.3 Bn and a Profit After Tax of Rs. 1.6 Bn. These achievements are the result of the dedication and resilience of our two incredible sales teams, where we produced a record 222 MDRT qualifiers along with the contribution of all our support teams, whose efforts have been instrumental in driving this growth. The most rewarding aspect of our journey has been our consistency, year after year, we have stayed strong and outperformed the industry growth rate, securing our position as one of the fastest growing life insurers in Sri Lanka. Adding to this success, our Fitch Rating was recently upgraded to ‘A,’ further affirming our financial strength and stability.
Commenting on the success of the company’s Advisor Distribution Channel, Harindra Ramasinghe, Chief Business Officer / GM – Advisor Distribution Channel, noted, “Our focus on strengthening our advisor network and enhancing distribution channels has significantly contributed to our growth trajectory. The structured career path for our advisors has ensured higher retention, directly impacting our new business growth and long-term sustainability. We expanded this channel by reaching 3,000+ trained and supported advisors who efficiently meet our customers’ protection needs. Supported by a network of 70 branches, targeted growth and capacity-building initiatives, I’m extremely proud to note that the Advisor Distribution Channel reached a 21% YoY increase in GWP and 21% YoY New Business Premium growth, along with 87 MDRT qualifiers for the year 2024.”
Mr. Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer / GM - Partnerships, sharing his thoughts on the growth of the Channel, stated, “I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved last year. Our Bancassurance channel continues to be the ‘Best’ in the industry, securing the top spot for the fourth consecutive year. With a GWP contribution of 48% to the company and Rs. 1.47 Bn in new business premiums, which reflects a 38% Growth from last year, a 29% in overall GWP and an incredible 112% surge in MRP and DTP business, we witnessed a strong momentum across all segments. The Alternate Channel also saw a phenomenal 64% growth, contributing 31% to the total Channel’s growth. Looking ahead, our initiatives like the LIFE Campus, set up to continuously improve and provide training to our teams along with the new Alternate Endowment Business vertical, SME and Micro Business focused partnerships are setting the stage for even greater success. What truly brings me joy is witnessing our people succeed. Last year, we hosted our inaugural international awards ceremony in Bangkok, where we celebrated over 100 of our top-performing sales staff. We also achieved a remarkable milestone with 135 MDRT qualifiers including 05 TOTs and 20 COTs, the highest number we have ever recorded. Lastly, let me also convey my heartfelt thanks to Hatton National Bank, our other partner banks and broker network for their continued support "
May
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has once again reaffirmed its industry leadership in Bancassurance by securing the title of "Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka" for the fifth consecutive year, awarded by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK. Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance, expressed his thoughts on this milestone, stating, “Being named the Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka for the fifth year in a row is not just an honor, it is a reflection of the enduring partnerships we have built especially with our parent company Hatton National Bank along with the passion of our teams. This accolade speaks volumes of our consistent efforts to elevate standards in bancassurance. Our teams continue to innovate, collaborate and break boundaries to deliver meaningful solutions to our customers. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the management of Hatton National Bank and our other partners for their continued guidance and support.”Highlighting the pivotal role of the Partnership Channel, Mr. Wimalaratne further added,“As we accelerate towards our goal of capturing a 10% market share, the Partnership Channel remains central to our growth strategy. Congratulations to the teams involved, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished and am excited about the journey ahead.”Mr. Supun Dias, Senior Vice President - Network Management at Hatton National Bank, congratulated the team at HNBA, stating, “To witness HNBA win this prestigious title for five consecutive years is truly inspiring. It is a testament to the strength and synergy of our long-standing partnership. As a Group, we are committed to driving innovation and delivering superior value to our clients. Congratulations to HNBA and everyone involved in achieving this exceptional feat.”Also sharing his thoughts, Mr. Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer – Partnerships at HNB Assurance, remarked, “This milestone is the direct result of the dedication our teams and tireless efforts they have made to deliver value to our policyholders. The Partnerships team at HNBA, together with our banking partners, especially Hatton National Bank, have been instrumental in shaping this success story. I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the HNB Branch Management, HNB Bank Network Management along our valued customers for their trust placed on us. This fifth win reinforces our drive to deliver excellence and as we move forward we will continue to strive to reach even greater heights.
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May
Strengthening its footprint across Sri Lanka, HNB Assurance PLC officially opened its newest branch in Jaffna, located at No. 521, Point Pedro Road, Nallur. With this addition, the company now operates 11 branches in the North emphasizing the company’s ongoing efforts to bring its life insurance solutions closer to communities in the Northern Province, making protection and financial planning more accessible than ever before. The new Jaffna branch will serve as a hub for customers in the region, delivering personalized insurance services with the hallmark trust, care and professionalism the company is known for.Speaking at the branch opening, Mr. Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC, stated, “We are indeed excited to further strengthen our footprint in the Northern Province with the opening of this new branch in Jaffna. With multiple touchpoints already established in the region, our growing presence allows us to better serve the evolving needs of our customers and create even closer relationships with the communities we operate in. We remain dedicated to being a trusted partner in their journey towards a more secure and resilient future.”Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe, Chief Business Officer – Advisor Distribution Channel of HNB Assurance PLC, commented, “With the opening of our newest branch in Jaffna, we now operate over 70 physical branches across the island and with this new branch opening we have reaffirmed our belief in the strategic importance of the Northern Province to our growth journey. We have always recognized Jaffna as a key region with immense potential and we are proud to strengthen our connection with its people. My sincere thanks to the Distribution Management team and all the other support teams for their efforts in helping us open this branch.”The newly inaugurated Jaffna branch is now open to serve customers from Monday to Friday, offering expert guidance and tailored life insurance solutions to meet diverse needs.
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May
In an effort to demonstrate its continued commitment to exceptional service and customer convenience, HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has launched a 24-hour call center, enabling policyholders to connect with the company on all matters related to customer service at any time, from anywhere using the short code 1301. While customer service support is now available 24/7, hospitalization claims-related services will continue to be handled as per the specific instructions issued to the policyholder at the time of obtaining a policy.HNB Assurance has experienced consistent growth, recording an impressive average growth rate of 26% over the past four years. The company’s momentum and customer-centric focus have paved the way for initiatives such as the 24-hour call center, designed to strengthen policyholder engagement and ensure seamless service delivery.“Exceptional customer service is not just a value we uphold; it is a critical pillar of our strategy to achieve a 10% market share by 2026” said Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance. “Making our call center available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, ensures our policyholders are supported when they need us most, reinforcing the trust they place in us every day. Additionally, our significant investments in digital transformation to make interactions of our policyholders with us seamless, to initiatives like this, all aim at delivering our broader mission to continuously enhance our customer experience”. Speaking further he went on to add “as an industry, as we push towards greater insurance penetration, it is important that players do everything in their power to foster greater levels of confidence and convenience to the customer”.Earlier this year, HNB Assurance also unveiled a dedicated Customer Service Centre, a thoughtfully curated space designed to create personalized and streamlined interactions. Together with the 24-hour call center, HNB Assurance continues to reimagine and elevate every aspect of the customer journey.“Our newly enhanced 24-hour call center operation and the upgraded Customer Service Centre we opened earlier this year are all part of our ongoing efforts to elevate and refine every touchpoint so as to offer a superlative customer experience that truly differentiates us from the competetion,” added Dinesh Yogaratnam, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer / General Manager of HNB Assurance. “We recognize that as a company we offer something that is intangible, protection, trust and peace of mind and for that, we need to be with our customers at all times. Hence, these initiatives are not standalone, they are integral to how we plan to grow, not just in size but in the value and care we offer to every policyholder.”
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