HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2022 by honoring and paying tribute to its female colleagues. HNBA and HNBGI as leading Life and General Insurance service providers in the country, have taken a number of measures to create equality, diversity and inclusion within the two organizations and promoting a healthy, work-life balance for all its staff members.
Extending his wishes on International Women’s Day, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA stated, “Every year on the 8th of March we celebrate the spirit of womanhood and laud their leadership traits, achievements, strength and courage, but in reality, the spirit of womanhood should be celebrated 24 x 7 x 365 as women are the guardians of our families, society and economy. In an effort to create and promote a culture of equality and inclusion and to make a real difference, HNBA has launched several initiatives and programs, especially to empower and motivate women at all levels to reach their career aspirations and goals. For striving to create a meaningful difference, HNBA was recognized among the Top 10 Women Friendly Workplaces in Sri Lanka at Women Friendly Workplaces Awards 2021 organized by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. This recognition augurs well for all our efforts to create a happy and safe workplace for all staff members.
Mr. Wimalaratne continued, “In celebration of International Women’s Day, HNBA together with HNBGI launched Liya Harasara, offering a range of exclusive benefits for women during the month of March and April. HNBA will always be committed to doing what’s right and standing for its core values and beliefs and is committed to foster inclusion and equality and accelerate diversity for women to help reach great heights in their journey”.
Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, Chief Executive Officer of HNBGI extended his wishes stating, “In today’s society, women play multiple roles amidst many challenges, barriers and hurdles with the ultimate objective of providing for their families and their loved ones. But most often, their contribution, hard work and dedication is undervalued and ignored by the society. It’s time we change this. Empowering women is essential to sustainability of any business and HNBGI will continue to empower women at all levels and create space to grow, shine and prosper”.
Mr. Jayasundara added, “HNBGI is committed to further amplify the voices of women across the organization and drive a cultural change by bringing women to the forefront and highlight them for their achievements, commitment and hard work. Whilst extending my wishes this International Women’s Day, I wish to reiterate that HNBGI is committed to stand beside women, creating a safe and happy place for women to grow and achieve their career aspiration”.
Mrs. Sitari Jayasundara, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Board Secretary of HNBA and HNBGI stated, “I wish to extend my wishes on this International Women’s Day to all brave and strong women and I urge all women to keep going forth and stay focused on their goals, as we’re courageous and unstoppable”.
Ms. Punsirini Perera, Chief Financial Officer of HNBA and HNBGI extended her wishes stating, “Women are strong, women are confident, and women are real go-getters. Over the years, as women we have achieved many milestones together and made history and let’s continue to do so and let nothing hold you back”.
Sharing her views on International Women’s Day, Mrs. Geethani Saram, Head of Procurement and Support Services of HNBA and HNBGI commented, “Women across the country have made great strides in their respective industries and as women we should support one another to overcome day-to-day challenges, hurdles and barriers women face and help each other shine and grow”.
Head of Customer Experience of HNBA Mrs. Shaaza Ossen stated, “On this day let’s celebrate and applaud all our efforts and hard work and what we have achieved as women in our lives. Let’s continue to raise our voices and build a truly happy and safe place for all women across the country”.
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.
October
HNB General Insurance (HNBGI) proudly announced the signing of a partnership agreement with the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) affiliated to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura strengthening the collaboration dedicated to advancing leadership excellence, management capabilities and empowering employees to drive sustainable organizational growth. This partnership also marks the continuation of “HNBGI Elevation”, a Management Development Program with the inauguration of the second consecutive batch. HNBGI Elevation is designed to build future-ready managers who will transform the general insurance industry through critical skills in strategic decision-making and leadership development embodying its essence of “Leadership Beyond Limits”. “At HNB General Insurance, we believe that investing in our people is investing in the future,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, Director/CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This partnership with PIM reflects our commitment to nurturing leadership talent, empowering our employees and preparing them to take on tomorrow with confidence. Adding to this, Malsha Munasinghe, Head of Human Resources/ Assistant General Manager at HNB General Insurance stated “HNBGI Elevation is a vital platform that enables our employees to unlock their true potential, build confidence and develop into leaders who can navigate challenges and inspire teams. As we continue with the second batch, we look forward to shaping a culture of growth and leadership that benefits both our employees and the organization as a whole”. Together with PIM, one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious postgraduate institutes, HNBGI is setting the foundation for a transformative learning journey that will shape the leaders of tomorrow.
September
HNBGI Better Tomorrow Marks Its Start with a Successful Community Clean-up Initiative HNB General Insurance launched its new flagship CSR initiative, “HNBGI Better Tomorrow,” with the first community clean-up event held recently. This initiative marks the start of a long-term commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and stronger community engagement. The clean-up targeted a neglected alley adjacent to Nawam Mawatha, a route frequently used by hundreds of daily commuters as a shortcut to the Slave Island Railway Station and offices nearby. Previously littered with debris and waste, the alley had become unhygienic and unpleasant for the local community. More than just a clean-up, this effort reflected HNBGI’s dedication to fostering cleaner, safer surroundings, paving the way for a sustainable future that begins with our people and neighborhoods. Armed with brooms, garbage sacks, and other tools, the HNBGI team worked together to transform the alley into a safe, welcoming, and hygienic pathway for all who pass through. In line with ESG initiatives, HNBGI took the responsibility for maintaining this area, ensuring it remains a clean, safe, and well-kept pathway for the community. “Our vision for HNBGI Better Tomorrow is to create a meaningful, long-term platform where we contribute to both people and the planet,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, Director/ CEO of HNB General Insurance. “By starting with this clean-up, we are setting the tone for many impactful initiatives to come driving positive change step by step and ensuring a better tomorrow for all”. “This initiative goes beyond cleaning,” added Dilshan Perera, Chief Transformation Officer of HNB General Insurance. “It embodies our commitment to sustainable action, stronger community relationships, and building a hygienic, greener environment for everyone.” The event also reinforces HNBGI’s brand promise: Your Trusted Partner to Take on Tomorrow, demonstrating how proactive steps today can create lasting positive impact for communities and the environment. The transformed alley now offers a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant route, turning what used to be a daily challenge into a small moment of comfort for commuters.
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.