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Union Assurance tops rankings as #1 Transparent Life Insurer in Sri Lanka
Union Assurance, Sri Lanka’s premier Life Insurer, has been recognised as the #1 Life Insurance Company in the latest Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment 2023 (TRAC) published by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL). The assessment, which evaluates corporate disclosure practices among 125 public limited companies in Sri Lanka, covers reporting on six key sections: anti-corruption programmes, organisational transparency, domestic financial reporting, country-by-country reporting, gender and non-discrimination reporting, and reporting on procurement related to government contracts and tenders. Union Assurance emerged as the frontrunner in the Life Insurance sector with an impressive TRAC score of 8.75 out of 10, demonstrating significant transparency across the board. This score surpasses the overall average TRAC score of 5.85 out of 10 in the assessment.
As a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate, Union Assurance upholds rigorous governance policies. The Company has implemented a comprehensive governance structure and multiple initiatives, including anti-fraud, whistleblower, and anti-corruption policies. Union Assurance also enforces a strong code of conduct that guides and protects stakeholders, emphasising a zero-tolerance approach to offences.
Furthermore, the Company takes pride in being an equal opportunity provider, maintaining a work environment free from discrimination based on race, religion, gender, age, nationality, social origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, and opinion.
Union Assurance, in alignment with the John Keells Group’s people-related policies, has implemented several crucial initiatives to foster a supportive work environment, including a robust gender policy, equal opportunity and non-discrimination policy, anti-sexual harassment policy, and the ONE JKH initiative. Among the ONE JKH initiatives, Union Assurance actively addresses unconscious biases and promotes inclusivity with the introduction of the progressive 100-day equal parental leave policy, recognising the importance of supporting both mothers and fathers in their parenting roles. Union Assurance’s unwavering focus on gender parity has yielded impressive results, achieving true gender balance with 51% female representation.
Moreover, Union Assurance encourages female employees to take on non-traditional roles, fostering increased participation and leadership opportunities for women within the organisation. The recent launch of the ‘Grow’ programme on International Women’s Day 2024 exemplifies Union Assurance’s commitment to empowering female employees. This initiative aims to strengthen women’s leadership capabilities and enhance their decision-making roles across the Company. By nurturing talent and promoting diversity, Union Assurance continues to set a positive example in the corporate landscape.
In reference to the ranking, Rehan Ismail, Assistant Vice President of Risk and Compliance at Union Assurance, expressed pride in the Company’s consecutive recognition by TISL. “This acknowledgement underscores our commitment to exemplify transparent practices within the Life Insurance sector and across Sri Lanka’s business landscape. In today’s digital era, stakeholders have easy access to information through technology, enabling data-driven decision-making, with transparent corporate reporting playing a pivotal role in this context. At Union Assurance, we firmly believe that doing the right thing is essential to leading as a responsible corporate citizen. As a result, we continually adapt our processes and structures to meet stakeholder needs, ensuring optimal value for all,” he stated.
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
