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HNB Assurance Group completes impressive third quarter with 21% growth in GWP.
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and its wholly owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) ended the third quarter with the Group figures indicating a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 583 Mn. In terms of Gross Written Premium (GWP), the Group recorded Rs. 13.6 Bn growing by an impressive 21% compared to the previous year. HNBA exhibited exceptional growth during the period by achieving a growth rate twice that of the industry average, while HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) also demonstrated a robust performance, growing at a staggering five times the industry average.
Rose Cooray, Chairperson of HNBA and HNBGI said: “I’m extremely delighted by the outstanding performance exhibited by HNB Assurance Group during the third quarter. Our consistent growth is a clear indication that HNB Assurance as a group is in the forefront of providing exceptional services and adapting to the ever-changing demands of our clientele.
Amidst the slow recovery of Sri Lanka’s economy following a period of significant challenges, both HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance undertook strategic measures to fortify their operations, which involved equipping themselves with enhanced capabilities, innovative strategies and resilient frameworks to navigate the economic fluctuations and effectively cater to the market. In terms of the performance the group GWP grew by 21% compared to the same period last year. While the Group Assets surpassed the Rs. 48 Bn mark to reach Rs. 48.42 Bn with a growth of 18%. Over the last 10 months, the total equity along with the life fund notably surged, reaching a significant milestone of Rs. 9.1 Bn and Rs. 30 Bn, representing a remarkable increase of 17% and 24% respectively.”
Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNBA said: “Our strategic focus of enhancing and improving our distribution channels has yielded tremendous results, notably reflected in our impressive 19% growth in GWP to reach Rs. 7.8 Bn, which is almost double the growth rate of the industry and the highest amongst the top tier players, also, the 26% increase in new business premiums compared to the previous year.
In addition to our steady and sustainable growth, winning the ‘Best Distribution Initiative’ award, recognized by Insurance Asia, was extremely heartening as it validated our efforts and well-rounded strategy. While we are happy about the progress made, I believe it’s crucial to sustain it and finish the year on a high. Our team is motivated just to do that and with the surplus transfer from the life fund yet to take place, our collective aim is to close the year strong, ensuring substantial benefits for our shareholders.”
Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance, said: “We have been investing heavily in revamping our core systems and building a solid digital platform, setting us up for the future. These changes are all about making things better for our customers and equipping ourselves for the long run. I’m extremely delighted to see these efforts paying off as we have seen a steady growth in our GWP of 24% when compared to last year, which in comparison to the current industry growth rate reflects a 5-time increase.
Diving further into the numbers, our Non-Motor sector saw a 58% growth compared to the industry’s 12%, while our Motor portfolio grew by 6% despite the industry’s negative growth of 1.3%. I must convey my sincere appreciation to all the sales and other support teams for their efforts and hard work, ensuring that we continue to make remarkable progress as an organization. Additionally, we were also recognized as the ‘Most Customer-Centric General Insurance Brand’ in the country, which is extremely big for us because it shows our commitment to putting customers first. Further, we were recognized with a Bronze Award at the CNCI Achiever Awards 2023, which is yet another validation of our efforts and innovation within the industry.”
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
