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 Lanka
Sithumina 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.
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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Aug
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and its subsidiary, HNB General Insurance Ltd (HNBGI), have delivered exceptional financial results for Q2 2025, reinforcing their strong market position while showing robust growth across key metrics and reinforcing its solid position in the market.For the first six months of 2025, the Group’s Gross Written Premium (GWP) rose 30% to Rs. 14.3 billion from Rs. 10.9 billion in 2024. Profit After Tax (PAT) increased 10% to Rs. 519 million (excluding Life Insurance Surplus Transfer), while total assets reached Rs. 70.2 billion, up from Rs. 62.4 billion a year earlier. Investment income climbed 6% to Rs. 4.0 billion. The Group honored Rs. 3.8 billion in net claims and benefits, a 15% increase, reflecting its strong policyholder commitment. Assets Under Management (AUM) grew to Rs. 61 billion, and Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) rose to Rs. 3.46 from Rs. 3.16.“Our strategy has always been straightforward, expand our footprint while delivering greater value to our customers and strive to be consistent at it,” said Mr. Stuart Chapman, Chairman of HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance. “This focus has enabled us to strengthen our position in the market and sustain the strong momentum we have built over the years, positioning us well for the future in order to generate value for all our stakeholders.”HNB Assurance PLC recorded a 35% GWP increase to Rs. 8.6 billion in Q2 2025 from Rs. 6.4 billion in Q2 2024. PAT for the life business grew 17% to Rs. 428 million (excluding Life Insurance Surplus Transfer). The Life Fund expanded to Rs. 44.1 billion from Rs. 35.2 billion, underscoring long-term stability. Net Claims and benefits incurred rose 33% to Rs. 1.9 billion from Rs. 1.4 billion, and investment income increased 8% to Rs. 3.6 billion.“Our strategic focus on expanding our product offerings and enhancing customer service has yielded impressive results,” said Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director/CEO of HNB Assurance PLC. “The double-digit growth in our GWP and Life Fund, coupled with a significant increase in claims paid, demonstrates our commitment to our customers and our strong financial foundation.”HNB General Insurance Ltd (HNBGI) achieved Rs. 5.6 billion in GWP for the six months, a 23% increase from 2024, and settled claims worth Rs. 2.1 billion. The company’s total growth of 23% more than doubled the industry average which was at 11%. Its non-motor portfolio delivered the highest industry growth at 35% versus 4% sector growth, driven by the fire and engineering segment which posted an exceptional 49% growth against the industry’s 4%.“Our ability to stay ahead of the industry comes down to two things, the dedication of our people and the strength of our business model, which is to staying closely aligned to emerging trends and other developments taking place within the General Insurance industry,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, Executive Director/CEO of HNB General Insurance. “We have seen strong growth in our GWP, managed our contract liabilities wisely and delivered a healthy boost in profits. Additionally, this quarter was extra special with the launch of HNBGI NEXA, our AI-powered chatbot, a clear indication that as we are getting bigger, we are getting better.”
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