HNBA News

HNB Assurance's commitment to delivering seamless access to comprehensive insurance solutions for customers across the country reached yet another milestone, with the unveiling of the refurbished Kandy branch and the new branch in Galewala. This strategic expansion represents the significant growth HNBA has displayed over the past couple of years. The refurbished branch in Kandy, located in the heart of the city, has been designed, keeping in mind modern aesthetics to enhance greater customer experience. Additionally, the new branch will cater to the insurance requirements of individuals, families and businesses in Galewala, targeting the exploration of a new market and offering customized solutions to meet the unique needs of those local communities. Speaking about the branch openings, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne CEO of HNB Assurance, expressed his delight about the expansion, stating, "We are excited to open our refurbished model branch in Kandy and our new branch in Galewala. These strategic initiatives reflect our commitment to strengthening our presence across Sri Lanka and improving accessibility to our wide range of insurance products. We believe that by expanding our physical presence, we can better serve our customers and provide them with the personalized attention and support they require." Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe, Chief Business Officer / GM – Advisor Distribution Channel of HNBA, emphasized the company's focus on reach and customer-centricity, stating, "At HNB Assurance, we always strive to put our customers first. The opening of these new branches are a validation of our service mindset and efforts to conduct our operations in the most convenient and efficient manner. We are confident that our expanded network will help us build stronger relationships with our customers and foster a deeper understanding of their insurance needs. I invite the people of Kandy and Galewala to visit and engage with us to experience the exceptional service standards of HNBA.”

The highly anticipated HNBA Sales Convention, a celebration of exceptional achievement, collaboration and excellence, was recently held at the Hilton Colombo. This stellar event served as a platform to honor and felicitate the very best of HNBA's sales force, whose exceptional prowess helped HNBA record one of the best year’s ever recorded in the company’s history. The event was graced by the Chairperson of HNB Assurance PLC and HNB General Insurance Limited Mrs. Rose Cooray, Board Directors, CEOs of HNB Assurance and its wholly owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited, Corporate Management Committee members along with other invitees, sales staff and their spouses. A total of 350 plus awards were handed out under the categories Bronze, Silver, Gold, Super Gold, Premier Gold and Grand Awards, recognizing the efforts of those from the Advisor Distribution Channel. Further, the 81 MDRT winners along with the 02 COT winners were felicitated during the event. The pinnacle award of the night for ‘Best Sales Advisor’ was awarded to Ms. Shamali Liyanage, who won the award for the second consecutive year. Speaking at the event, Mrs. Rose Cooray, Chairperson of HNB Assurance PLC and HNB General Insurance Limited, expressed her admiration and conveyed her best wishes to the winners, stating "I’m delighted to be present here today where we recognize and honor our top advisors, whose unwavering dedication has immensely contributed to our company's resounding success in 2022. A lot of us expected the Covid 19 pandemic to accelerate and replace face-to-face selling with digital alternatives, however, you have all proven that the human touch still plays a vital role in the insurance industry, especially in building confidence and loyalty among our valued customers. So, my congratulations to all the winners tonight, may you grow from strength to strength.” Chasing after a very ambitious target of attaining a 10% market share in 05 years, HNBA CEO, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne was full of praise for his team for recording the best year in the company’s history, “We’ve made great headway into achieving our goal of 10 in 05. If we maintain this momentum and passion, while continuing to stay ahead of the industry growth, we certainly can achieve that number. I’m extremely grateful to each one of you for supporting our company’s goals and driving them individually and collectively. So, tonight is dedicated to all of you, to celebrate your incredible achievements and outstanding performance. I firmly believe that these achievements celebrated tonight will only propel us forward, motivate and help us emerge as a better organization. As I extend my heartiest congratulations to our top performers, I emphasize again, you – our people, remain the driving force behind our success and we will continue to support and provide you with all necessary resources required to excel in your roles.” The remarkable success of 2022 was attributed to the sheer determination of the Advisor distribution team, “The advisor distribution channel grew and contributed 53% to the total company’s GWP, and 60% to the company’s new business premium, during one of the most turbulent years we’ve seen in the recent past.” Opined, Chief Business Officer / GM – Advisor Distribution Channel of HNBA, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe. "The strength of HNBA's Sales Force was reflected in our financial achievements throughout 2022. We will continue to strengthen our highly professional and performance-driven sales force to capture new market segments across the island and expand our footprint. I am extremely proud of your accomplishments and have no doubt that even greater achievements await us as we embrace new technology and continue to improve our customized solutions. Congratulations to all winners tonight, I am confident that you will all continue to inspire and overcome every obstacle and keep the HNBA banner flying high.”

HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance recently held a workshop partnering Mr. Ravi Abeysuriya, CFA to present and distribute his latest book, "Financial Literacy - to achieve your financial wellbeing." This collaboration aims to promote financial literacy and empower individuals to make informed financial decisions to secure a prosperous future. Mr. Ravi Abeysuriya, a Non-executive / Independent Director of the HNB Assurance PLC board, is a veteran in the field of Banking and Finance. He Chairs and presides on the boards and committees of multiple organizations and was honorably named “Lifetime Achievement” award laureate by CFA Institute, USA in 2017 for his outstanding work and dedication to the investment management profession. Sharing his thoughts at the presentation and distribution event of his book, he opined, "Firstly, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Management of HNBA and HNBGI for their invaluable partnership in propagating this message of financial literacy, empowering a wider audience to shape their financial destinies.” Sri Lanka has the highest gap between print literacy and financial literacy in the region. On Average, 65% of the adults in advanced economies are financially literate. South Asia records the lowest percentage of financial literacy, with Sri Lanka coming in at about 35%. "Numerous studies have indicated that insurance penetration is among the most reliable indicators of financial literacy in any society. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka currently exhibits a penetration of less than 2%, reflecting a significant disparity in comparison to the global average," highlighted Mr. Abeysuriya, shedding light on the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka. While encouraging the participants to read and understand the book “Financial Literacy - to achieve your financial wellbeing," Mr. Abeysuriya emphasized the importance of equipping oneself with the knowledge and skills contained within the book to make informed and pertinent financial decisions. "Comprehending how money works and effectively managing personal finances are crucial steps toward attaining financial stability. Budgeting, planning, investing, asset accumulation and managing borrowings are practices adopted by successful organizations. Similarly, it is important that we apply these skills to our personal lives as well, equipping ourselves with the necessary knowledge and empowering ourselves to make sound financial decisions based on our current financial needs.” The presentation and distribution event was graced by esteemed guests including the Chairman, Director General and other members of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), the CEO of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) along with the Chairperson, CEOs and Senior Management and members of the advisory teams from both HNBA and HNBGI. The Chief guest of the event Mr. Razik Zarook PC, Chairman of the IRCSL sharing his views at the event stated, "I am deeply honored to be a part of this significant and momentous occasion today. The principles of financial management, articulated in the 'Sigalovada Sutta' of the Digha Nikaya almost 2500 years ago continue to hold relevance even in today's complex economic landscape. I can’t think of a better way to create awareness among people than going back to the words of the Exalted one, the principles of whom, I’m certain this book encapsulates.”