Business
Ceylinco Life remains No 1 for 18th successive year with premium income of Rs 25.5 billion
*Reports consolidated income of Rs 40.7 billion for 2021
*Life Fund grows 12% to Rs 119.6 billon
*Total assets up 15.2% to Rs 173.7 billion
*Value of investment portfolio increases by 15.5% to Rs 154.4 billion
Ceylinco Life has retained its market leadership in Sri Lanka’s life insurance sector for the 18th consecutive year with gross written premium income growing by 15.8 per cent to Rs 25.565 billion for the 12 months ending 31st December 2021, a company news release said.
“With investment and other income of Rs 15.129 billion for the year, the Company ended 2021 with consolidated income of Rs 40.694 billion, an improvement of 10 per cent over 2020. Ceylinco Life’s investment portfolio grew by Rs 20.748 billion or 15.52 per cent over the 12 months to Rs 154.455 billion at the end of the year,” it said.
The Company’s Life Fund grew by 12 per cent to Rs 119.634 as at 31st December 2021, consequent to a transfer of Rs 11.803 billion, which was 25 per cent higher than the transfer made in respect of 2020.
Total assets grew by Rs 22.9 billion or 15.23 per cent over the year at a monthly average of more than Rs 1.9 billion to reach Rs 173.762 billion at the end of the year reviewed.
Commenting on the company’s performance in what he described as a year of snowballing challenges, Ceylinco Life Managing Director/CEO Mr Thushara Ranasinghe said: “Our figures for 2021 demonstrate the importance of not allowing external factors to distract us from our fundamental purpose, which is to de-risk the future for more and more Sri Lankans through life insurance. The pressures of economic uncertainty and mercurial policies did pose a challenge to most businesses in 2021, but Ceylinco Life maintained its growth momentum by focusing on the evolving needs and concerns of its customer base.”
The Company paid Rs 12.736 billion in net claims and benefits to policyholders for the year under review, an increase of 3.8 per cent over the preceding year, and transferred Rs 4.5 billion to the shareholders fund, which stood at Rs 44.194 billion at the end of 2021.
Ceylinco Life’s basic earnings per share for the year amounted to Rs 137, while net assets value per share stood at Rs 883.88 as at 31st December 2021, an increase of 15.8 per cent.
Among the highlights of the year reviewed was the launch of two ground-breaking market responsive new products – ‘Future Saver’ and ‘Education Protector.’ Future Saver is a new paradigm life insurance product that offers protection as well as wealth accumulation, with an emphasis on the latter. It is designed to enable policyholders to plan for long-term goals by passionately saving for a short period during which their financial stability is at its peak. Education Protector is an insurance plan designed exclusively for the purpose of ensuring the continued education of children. It enables a parent to, with just a single one-time premium payment, secure the future education prospects of a child in the event of his or her inability to do so due to death or total and permanent disability.
Adjudged Sri Lanka’s Service Brand of the Year by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and voted the ‘Most Popular Service Provider’ in Sri Lanka’s Life Insurance industry in 2021, Ceylinco Life has been the country’s leading life insurer for more than half of the 33 years it has been in existence. The company was ranked the ‘Most Valuable Life Insurance Brand’ in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance also in 2021, during which it was also named one of the 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), was voted the ‘Peoples Life Insurance Service Provider of the Year’ for a record 15th consecutive year, was certified as a ‘Great Workplace’ in Sri Lanka by Great Place to Work® and was named the ‘Best Life Insurer in Sri Lanka’ for the eighth consecutive year by World Finance.
Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies and is acknowledged as a benchmark in the local insurance sector for innovation, product research and development, customer service, professional development, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.
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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