HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) recently held a series of forums focused on all employees with the aim of discussing the topic of biases and barriers and to further the agenda of equity within and outside organizational boundaries. This program featured sessions by Ms. Chiranthi Cooray, General Manager/Chief Transformation Officer of Hatton National Bank PLC and Non-Independent/Non-Executive Director of HNB General Insurance Limited and Professor Arosha Adikaram, Chair Professor of Department of HRM at Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo, who have had a long-standing commitment towards “equity at workplace” agenda. Speaking at the forum, Ms. Chiranthi Cooray expressed her views stating, “Every year, during the month of March we come together to laud, celebrate and pay tribute to the spirit of womanhood, but it should not only be limited to March. Our commitment towards gender equality, breaking the bias and creating a difference where women are valued and celebrated should be renewed every day. Gender inequality manifests in the distribution of resources, work, power or even time. We must truly accelerate our efforts to break all barriers and norms and build a sustainable future of inclusion, diversity and equity for everyone”. Sharing her views, Professor Arosha Adikaram stated, “Every woman is strong, confident, and powerful in her own way and women have achieved great milestones both personally and professionally by immensely contributing to the development of today’s society and economy. As we celebrate the strength of women, we should ensure that women are recognized for their efforts, contribution, hard work, and for balancing multiple roles in their day-to-day lives. It is even more important for everyone in the society to help women to achieve their goals and dreams. Hence, is it crucial to build a world free of all forms of bias, discrimination and stereotypes and inspire women to love themselves, take care of themselves and achieve their heart’s desire”. In demonstrating solidarity to the agenda of breaking barriers, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA and Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, Chief Executive Officer of HNBGI shared their views and pled their fullest commitment. Mr. Dinuka Pattikiriarachchi, Chief Human Resource Officer of HNBA and HNBGI explained the provisions provided at policy level as well as practice to protect and develop all employees. He further explained the duty and responsibility of each other to promote fairness and equity for those who have a lesser voice. In conclusion he added, “Women are not defined by the choice of clothing, lifestyle, or profession but by her strength, knowledge, resilience, confidence, and courage. Women across industries have achieved remarkable milestones and made great strides and whilst saluting all women for their strength and will power to challenge the society and make their voices heard, let’s pledge our support to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in everything that we do and say”. 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.
December
HNB General Insurance (HNBGI) demonstrated its excellence by securing three prestigious awards at the National Sales Awards 2024, organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM). This premier event is the pinnacle of recognition for sales professionals across industries in Sri Lanka. Reflecting HNBGI’s exceptional sales achievements during the 2023–24 period, the company’s Channel Development Manager, Danidu T. Galappaththi, clinched the coveted Silver Award under the National Sales Manager category. Danidu’s multifaceted contributions have been instrumental in driving HNBGI’s sales success. His leadership encompassed managing a dynamic sales team to achieve enhanced performance, leveraging innovative technologies, and adopting strategies such as product diversification and bundling to penetrate new market segments. In the Territory Manager category, Pulasthi Bandara, HNBGI Malabe Branch Manager, was honored with a Gold Award for his strategic planning capabilities, financial acumen, and strong communication skills which were pivotal in achieving sales targets and implementing best practices. In the same category, Ranga Deshan, Cluster Manager – Colombo South, HNBGI, won a Merit Award for his outstanding efforts in overseeing branch performance. His expertise in branch-level strategy, target achievement, and team development were critical to HNBGI’s consistent growth. Expressing his pride in the sales team’s accomplishments, Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNBGI, stated, “The steady sales growth we have achieved over the last few years is a testament to the dedication and exceptional performance of our sales force. At HNBGI, we ensure their hard work is recognized and celebrated internally but seeing them honored on a national stage is incredibly rewarding. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our award winners for their outstanding contributions to the company.” These accolades underscore HNBGI’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement within its sales force. The recognition at SLIM National Sales Awards 2024 solidifies HNBGI’s position as a leader in the industry, driven by a passionate and high-performing team.
November
HNB General Insurance (HNBGI) recently entered into a bancassurance partnership with Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most reputed private banks. This strategic partnership marks a milestone in their shared mission to provide innovative, customer-centric insurance solutions. The partnership was formalized by Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank, and Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance, during a ceremonial signing. This strategic partnership alliance leverages the strengths of both institutions to deliver unparalleled convenience and tailored insurance options for their customers. Through this collaboration, Commercial Bank’s extensive customer base of over 3.5 million, served through Over 270 branches nationwide, will gain access to HNB General Insurance’s innovative portfolio of general insurance products. These carefully curated offerings are designed to deliver comprehensive coverage, promoting greater inclusivity and peace of mind for Sri Lankans. Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance, stated, “Joining forces with Commercial Bank is a significant milestone for HNBGI. This partnership not only enhances our footprint across Sri Lanka but also reaffirms our dedication to delivering best-in-class insurance solutions to meet the diverse needs of Sri Lankans.” “This partnership reflects Commercial Bank’s commitment to enriching the financial wellbeing of our customers by offering them innovative and tailored solutions. Collaborating with HNB General Insurance allows us to deliver added value and convenience to our clients, aligning with our mission to empower communities across Sri Lanka,” said Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Bank of Ceylon. This collaboration reinforces both organizations' commitment to advancing inclusivity in Sri Lanka while prioritizing customer convenience and satisfaction. HNB General Insurance, as part of the HNB Assurance PLC which in turn is part of the reputed HNB Group and Commercial Bank, widely recognized for their excellence in banking, bring together their expertise to redefine convenience and security, setting a new benchmark for service excellence for customers of both institutions. HNB General Insurance is a dedicated partner, addressing a diverse range of insurance needs from motor to non-motor and Takaful solutions for individuals and commercial entities across Sri Lanka. As a subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC and a member of the HNB Group, HNB General Insurance operates through an extensive network of branches, ensuring comprehensive service coverage throughout the island. Backed by an Insurer Financial Strength Rating of ‘A- (lka)’ by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited, HNB General Insurance is committed to creating sustainable value for stakeholders through innovation and care.
November
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) continued to build on their impressive performance, recording strong financial growth and achieving impressive operational success during the third quarter of 2024. With a focus on innovation, customer-centricity and expanding their market presence, both companies for the nine months ending September 30, 2024, reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of LKR 16.6 billion, a 22% increase when compared to the same period last year. This growth was fueled by HNBA’s GWP of LKR 9.9 billion, reflecting a 27% increase, and HNBGI’s GWP of LKR 6.7 billion, marking a 14% increase. Additionally, the Group’s PAT saw a notable growth of 26%, rising from LKR 583 million to LKR 734 million when compared to the same period last year. These exceptional financial performances were further fortified by the affirmation of Insurer Financial Strength ratings of HNBA and HNBGI as ‘A-’ (lka) from Fitch, with a stable outlook. "Our robust performance this quarter speaks to the strength of our team and the focus we’ve maintained in expanding our reach," commented Mr. Stuart Chapman, Chairman of HNBA and HNBGI. “The year 2024, we navigated with careful optimism, mindful of the elections and the unpredictability they could bring. Despite these uncertainties, our teams not only anticipated the challenges but surpassed expectations, achieving outstanding growth targets. The Group's GWP saw a substantial increase of 22% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Group’s Assets grew by almost 15%, rising to LKR 58.9 billion, during the first nine months. Additionally, our total equity touched LKR. 10.6 billion and our life fund reached LKR 37.6 billion, a noteworthy increase of 23%, during the first 03 quarters of the year. These achievements reflect our commitment to sustainable growth, positioning us strongly for the future as we continue to create value for our stakeholders.” Added, Mr. Chapman. “I am delighted to note that we have continued to maintain our remarkable financial performance during the third quarter and maintain our position as the only fitch A- rated life insurance provider in Sri Lanka.” Stated Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance. “Our Gross Written Premium has grown by 27%, reaching LKR 9.9 billion from LKR 7.8 billion when compared to the same period last year. The company posted a 6% growth in profitability by recording Rs. 550 million as profit after tax. It must be noted that the company is yet to recognize surplus from the Life fund which will be at the end of the year. An achievement which highlights the success of our strategic focus in offering accessible and innovative insurance solutions that truly resonate with the needs of our customers, through collaborations and new partnerships.” For HNBGI, the Q3 performance highlights its proactive stance in navigating challenges while seizing growth opportunities. Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNBGI, commented, “Our commitment to improved underwriting and efficient claims management has been instrumental to our success. We continue to make considerable strides in offering tailored insurance solutions that resonate with our clients, which has helped us achieve a GWP of LKR 6.7billion, a 14% increase when compared to the same period last year. Our business and efficiency improvements allowed us to increase our profit after tax threefold, to reach a 187% growth when compared to the same period last year. Notably, our focus on diversifying our portfolio beyond motor insurance has yielded significant growth, with our non-motor segment growing by 22% when compared to the same period last year. Within this category, we saw remarkable performances in marine, fire, and engineering insurance lines, which have grown by 121% and 27%, respectively, highlighting our proactive strategy to expand into areas of high demand.”
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