HNB Assurance Produces a Record Breaking 164 Million Dollar Round Table Qualifiers

Setting another new record in the Company’s history, HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has produced 164 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifiers, including 05 Court of the Table (COT) and 02 Top of the Table (TOT) achievers for 2021. This is the highest number of MDRT Qualifiers the Company has produced in its history.

MDRT, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®, which was formed in 1927 is an independent association with a global count of over 72,000 professionals affiliated to insurance and financial services in over 500 companies, where membership is exclusively to those that surpass the given threshold.

Speaking on the achievement, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne stated, “Becoming an MDRT qualifier is the ultimate dream of any Insurance Sales Professional and this year, I’m proud to say that HNBA has produced a record-breaking number of 164 MDRT qualifiers including COT and TOT members and this is another significant achievement to all of us at HNBA. Becoming an MDRT qualifier is by no means a small achievement and this prestigious achievement reflects on the constant hard work, dedication, and commitment of our champs even during challenging and uncertain times. Amidst many social and economic challenges in 2021, the Banca and Advisor Channels exceeded all expectations and delivered exceptional results, reaching many significant milestones. Being in the business of protection and taking care of our people and community, our Sales Force has gone above and beyond the call of duty, overcoming all hurdles and obstacles, proving that insurance is an unbreakable promise. And I commend them for all their efforts and sacrifices”.

Mr. Wimalaratne continued, “Whist congratulating all MDRT qualifiers, I wish to thank the Banca and Agency Distribution Management, Sales Training and Development teams and especially the Management of HNB and all HNB Branch and Regional Managers for continuously motivating and supporting our Sales Force to break all barriers and go forth. As the Company has embarked on an exciting journey, I hope that these numbers would double this year, setting new records and benchmarks”.

Sharing his views, Head of Sales Training and Development, Mr. Shiran Fernando stated, “This team effort reflects our winning spirit, robustness and resilience. Sales Training and Development along with Bancassurance and Agency Distribution Management teams have worked together to empower and support our Advisor Force and Bancassurance Channel, especially during challenging times, and this is the final outcome of our relentless efforts. Whilst thanking members of the three teams and the Management, I’m sure this number will grow as the Company continues to grow from strength to strength”.

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 63 branches. HNBA is a Life Insurance company with a rating of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka for ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’. Following the introduction of the segregation rules by the Insurance Regulator, HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) was created and commenced its operations in January 2015; HNBGI continues to specialize in motor, non-motor and Takaful insurance solutions and is a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC. HNB General Insurance has been assigned a ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’ of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited. HNBA is rated within the Top 100 brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance has won international awards for Brand Excellence, Digital Marketing and HR Excellence including the Great Place To Work® Certification, and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

ENDS.

Sithumina Jayasundara Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of HNB General Insurance Limited

HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) announced the appointment of Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara as its Chief Executive Officer effective January, 1^st 2022.

An old boy of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy, Mr. Jayasundara counts over 24 years of experience in the Insurance Industry. Prior to joining HNB General Insurance Limited, he has led many teams and held several key positions related to Non-Life at Asian Alliance Insurance PLC, MBSL Insurance Company Limited, Janashakthi Insurance Co. Limited and Eagle Insurance PLC. Mr. Jayasundara has obtained foreign exposure through different training programmes and conferences related to General Insurance and specializes in the field of Re-insurance. Having joined HNBGI in 2014, Mr. Jayasundara was appointed to the Group Executive Committee in 2015 and subsequently promoted as the Chief Technical Officer of HNBGI and as Chief Operating Officer and Principal Officer of HNBGI in 2019.

Mr. Jayasundara is the current President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute (SLII) and a founding Council Member of The Association of Chartered Insurance Professionals (ACIP) in Sri Lanka. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, an Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII – UK) and holds the status of a Chartered Insurer and the Senior Associateship of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) was incorporated in January 2015 and specializes in Motor and Non-Motor Insurance Solutions and is presently one of the fastest growing General Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka, with a network of 56 branches. The Company is ranked within the Top 100 Brands and has been awarded a ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’ of ‘’A+’’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited and has obtained the Great Place to Work® Certification. The Company was awarded the Motor Insurance Initiative of the Year – Sri Lanka award at the Insurance Asia Awards 2021, and is a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC.

Lasitha Wimalaratne Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) announced the appointment of Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne as its Chief Executive Officer effective January, 1^st 2022.

Mr. Wimalaratne, an alumnus of Mahinda College, Galle is decorated by a professional profile spanning over 24 years out of which he holds 21 years of experience in Life Insurance Operations and Sales inclusive of 07 years at AIA Insurance Sri Lanka, whilst also gaining 03 years of Marketing and Sales exposure in London. Prior to joining HNB Assurance PLC in 2019, Lasitha conducted duties as the General Manager – Life Operations and Specified Officer at Softlogic Life Insurance PLC. Having joined HNB Assurance PLC as its Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Lasitha was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer and Principal Officer in 2020.

Having graduated from the University of Sunderland, UK with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Studies, Lasitha obtained his Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Wales, UK. A Chartered Insurer and a Fellow Member of the Charter Insurance Institute, UK (FCII), Mr. Wimalaratne is also a Fellow Member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (AZIIF-Fellow) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK (ACIM).

Mr. Wimalaratne is the current Secretary of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL), and is the immediate Honorary Past President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute (SLII) and has been serving SLII as a Council Member from 2011. Moreover, he was also the Founder Secretary General of the Association of Chartered Insurance Professionals (ACIP) and was a Council Member of ACIP until March, 2021. Mr. Wimalaratne has been a part of several local and international Insurance Seminars and has been a Guest Speaker and a Panelist at several Conferences including the Insurance Claims & Underwriting Management Asia Summit 2017 which was held in Singapore and he was the first to publish a book on insurance in a local context, titled “Jeewitha Rakshanaye Asiriya” which highlights the importance and benefits of Life Insurance.

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 63 branches. HNBA is a Life Insurance company with a rating of A+ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka for ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’. Following the introduction of the segregation rules by the Insurance Regulator, HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) was created and commenced its operations in January 2015; HNBGI continues to specialize in motor, non-motor and Takaful insurance solutions and is a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC. HNB General Insurance has been assigned a ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’ of “A+” ((ka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited. HNBA is rated within the Top 100 brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance has won international awards for Brand Excellence, Digital Marketing and HR Excellence including the Great Place To Work® Certification, and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.