Business
HNB ‘Diri Daru’ rewards over 2,500 children
HNB ‘Diri Daru’, Sri Lanka’s largest scholarship programme, which presents cash prizes and scholarships to students who successfully pass the grade five scholarship exam and who have a HNB ‘Singithi’ account, rewarded over 2,500 students prizes exceeding Rs. 20 million in value, in its latest edition.
To be eligible to receive prizes and scholarships under the flagship national scholarship programme of Sri Lanka’s leading private bank, students with ‘Singithi’ accounts sitting for the grade five scholarship exam should maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 10,000. Any student who meets this criterion, and who achieves the cut-off mark, is entitled to a cash prize of Rs. 5,000, which will be doubled to Rs. 10,000 if there is a monthly standing order of a minimum of Rs. 500 in place for the account.
“This is the only programme in Sri Lanka to reward all student exceeding the cut-off mark, while meeting the minimum balance requirement,” HNB Chief Manager / Head of Deposits, Viranga Gamage said. “Hence, the Diri Daru scheme benefits thousands of Sri Lanka’s future leaders, each year. It also presents an opportunity for parents to start accumulating funds for their child’s future needs, educational and otherwise.”
HNB was Sri Lanka’s first bank to introduce a branded minor savings account in 1991. Commencing initially with scholarships to top performing students at the all island and district level, the bank has expanded its scholarship programs over the years to include high-achieving GCE and London O/L and A/L students and eventually to any grade five scholarship exam student who achieves the cut-off mark, while maintaining the minimum balance required.
The scholarship scheme extended to GCE and London O/L and A/L student will offer a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, if the HNB accountholder passes the exam successfully. HNB will also provide 100 O/L students and 50 A/L students the cash prize if an account balance of Rs. 25,000 and 35,000 is maintained.
Parents can open a Singithi Lama/HNB Teen Account on behalf of their child with a minimum initial deposit of Rs. 500.
HNB has utilised the Singithi and HNB Teen products to inculcate the savings habit and create interest on savings among young Sri Lankans, especially by linking savings to consistent and tangible rewards. Through this, the bank aims to enhance financial literacy among Sri Lanka’s youth, which is critical for their future, while also providing them with valuable gifts.
HNB is a pioneer in minor savings, offering a comprehensive range of products designed to add value to its young customers. The ‘Singithi Kirikatiyo’ Account is specially designed for new born children and can be opened by parents within three months from the child’s date of birth. The account offers one of the highest interest rates and the bank will gift a free deposit of Rs. 1,000 at the time of opening the account. In addition, accountholders are entitled to special gifts on their birthday relative to the account balance maintained. On reaching five years, each account will be automatically converted to a HNB Singithi account and into a HNB Teen account at the age of 13.
With 254 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. The bank was ranked among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for five consecutive years and declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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