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HNBA Records an Impressive 26% GWP and 30% New business Growth in 2022
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) recorded an impressive growth of 26% in its Gross Written Premium (GWP) as at end December 2022 to reach LKR 8.9Bn. It is pertinent to note that this is in fact the highest GWP growth rate when compared with the Top 8 players in the Life Insurance industry in Sri Lanka, and is almost three fold of that of the industry which saw a growth of 9% . In terms of new business too, the Company was able to notch up a fantastic new business growth of 30% compared to last year which is almost 10 times as much as the industry average.
CEO of HNBA, Lasitha Wimalaratne, said: “Our growth has been driven consciously by way of acquisition of long-term endowment business that would ensure sustained growth of the business into the future. We as team fought tooth and nail in acquiring new business whilst also working tirelessly in maintaining policy persistency; both being extremely onerous endeavours in a what was the most calamitous of environments to operate in.”
He said that the year saw the unveiling of the flagship health proposition in SupremeHealth Unlimited. Apart from this the Company was also the recipient of many awards both locally and internationally further affirming the solidity and all-encompassing nature of the growth that the Company has acquired for itself. The Company has also been able to produce 194 Million Dollar Round Table (MRDT) qualifiers this year up from 164 produced a year earlier. The Company unveiled its new branch outlook during the year offering a totally new experience in terms of aesthetics, ergonomics and convenience to our customers and employees alike.
Chief Business Officer / GM – Advisor Distribution Channel of HNBA, Harindra Ramasinghe expressed his views stating, despite the numerous obstacles posed by the remnants of the global pandemic as well as economic and political upheaval, the HNBA Advisor Channel demonstrated unwavering performance, significantly boosting business growth.
Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer / GM – Partnership Business, sharing his thoughts on the growth of the Alternate Channel stated “The Alternate Channel team recorded expectational results in 2022 with Total GWP growing by 34% compared to the previous year to reach LKR 4.2 Bn . The Channel was also honoured to have received the Best Bancassurance Service Provider for the third consecutive year by the Global Banking and Finance Review and stands as testament to the resilience and vitality of the channel. I wish to very sincerely extend by most heartfelt appreciation to the Management of HNB, Other banking partners and all the insurance brokers who have been a pillar of strength in our growth thus far, as well as to our other partners who have been part of parcel of our growth”. He further went on to add that “with the development of other alternate channels of business we are poised for a high growth trajectory and I’m confident that our team will no stone unturned in achieving the objectives set for 2023”.
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
