The „peoplefactor‟of an organization with no doubt is itsgreatest strength, making its management crucial in a highly competitive industry such as Insurance. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA)and its fully owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI)has deployed a Human Resourcestrategyfor its staffwhich focuses onenriching the life of its employees,both throughenhancing quality of time at work as well as providing for greater work-life balance. Sharing views on the Human Resource strategy, Managing Director/CEO of HNBA and HNBGIMr.Deepthi Lokuarachchi stated, “The Human Resource strategy is akey success driverof any organizationand it is believed that the Human Resource function adds a great deal of value to the corporationandthe „people factor‟provides for greater stability of the business as well as superior organizational performance.Cherished Human Resource practices could result in a pool of competentand dedicated employees.The Grouppays great emphasis on its recruitment strategy as well as in retaining its employees. As a Group with over 900 employees,the Strategic Human Resource practices extendbeyond the standard Human Resource practices, to help our staff and their families fulfill their aspirations and dreams.Extensive measures are taken in order to create acontemporary organization culturewith augmented valuesas well asasupport mechanism toenable one to go forthin one‟s career.” Speakingfurther Mr. Lokuarachchi added“The Group has an „opendoor‟ policy where employees could access the top management concerningany matter. Continuous learning and development is encouraged throughout each tier of the organization. The Group envisions creating charismatic leaders andhas invested its resources in talent management and talent development which helps in building competencies and skills within employees. As part of the Human Resource strategy, training programs are conducted on a monthly basis focusing onprofessionalas well as personaldevelopment of employees.These programs rangefrom personal grooming to professional training to workshops on striking the right work-life balance and healthy living.A case in point here is the workshop that was held for staff on the prevention of Dengue and H1N1 as well as a workshop to help individuals understand what measures should be takeninorderto spend the golden eve of one‟s life in a happy and a healthy manner. These workshops were conducted byDr. Shiromi Maduwage and Dr. Sameera Sennanayake ofthe College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka.The Group identifies the true potentialofeach staff member and set in place a compensation scheme which has both monetary and non-monetary components. The Group constantly encourageemployees in enhancingleadership roles and in empowering employees by creating additional tiers in the managementhierarchyto allow career progression. In addition, the Group has taken a step forward in implementing advanced Human ResourceInformationsystems and reward schemes”.
Aug
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA), one of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurance providers, has once again been honoured as one of the nation’s most outstanding women-friendly workplaces at the 2025 Satynmag Women Friendly Workplace Awards. This accolade, which marks the fourth such recognition for HNBA, underscores the organisation’s enduring dedication to creating an inclusive, progressive and empowering work environment for women across all levels of the company.The Women Friendly Workplace Awards are designed to spotlight corporations that actively promote gender equity, cultivate inclusive leadership, and champion the advancement of women within the corporate sphere. In receiving this recognition year after year, HNB Assurance continues to demonstrate that its policies and practices are not only consistent but also continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of a modern workforce.“At HNB Assurance, we believe that an enlightened workplace is one where every individual, and especially women, feel empowered to grow, contribute and innovate,” said Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director / CEO of HNB Assurance. “This recognition reflects not only our dedication to embedding best-in-class HR practices, but also our conviction that true organisational strength is forged through women-friendly policies, inclusive leadership, equitable opportunity and a culture that celebrates and cultivates excellence. My sincere thanks to Satynmag for this recognition. We are honoured to be recognised as a women-friendly workplace and remain steadfast in our commitment to setting new benchmarks for empowering women in Sri Lanka.HNBA’s Head of Human Resources / DGM, Mr. Navin Rupasinghe, reflected on the achievement stating “Over the years, we have introduced a series of targeted initiatives from wellbeing programmes and leadership mentoring to structured training and responsive grievance mechanisms which go beyond symbolic gestures and instead create a tangible impact in the everyday professional lives of our employees. Winning this accolade for the fourth time assures us that these interventions are not only appreciated externally, but are also deeply resonant internally, helping us to build trust and loyalty across the organisation. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the in.she committee, whose contributions have been pivotal in translating our vision into meaningful action, and who continue to drive the progress that we are proud to celebrate today.”
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HNB Assurance PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing insurance providers, has been recognized as the Best Life Insurance Company – Sri Lanka 2024 by Global Brands Magazine, UK. This international accolade emphasizes HNBA’s position as a strong player within the life insurance sector, continuously raising the bar in customer experience, innovation and industry excellence.Throughout the year, HNBA has been celebrated with numerous local and international accolades, including being named the Insurance Sector Winner at the National Business Excellence Awards and Runner-up for Excellence in Local Market Reach (National Level). The Company has also been recognized as the Best Life Bancassurance Provider by the Global Banking and Finance Review for five consecutive years, listed among the top 40 Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka and ranked 09th among large scale work places by Great Place to Work, honored as Sri Lanka’s Most Outstanding Women Friendly Workplace 2024 and acknowledged as a Company with Great Managers.These recognitions highlight the balance of HNBA’s focus on business performance, the strength of its people, and a culture that empowers growth, the very foundations that have made the Company one of the strongest and most respected players in the insurance industry today.Speaking about the award, Mr. Lasitha Wimalarathne, Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance, stated, “Being recognized as the Best Life Insurance Company by Global Brands Magazine is an honor, as this award validates the collective efforts of our dedicated team and our commitment to protecting the dreams and aspirations of our policyholders. Our journey of growth and recognition is driven by a simple principle, keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do, while embracing innovation and building trust across every interaction. Our strong financial performance reflects this and gives us the confidence to expand further in delivering meaningful protection to all Sri Lankans. My sincere thanks to the Global Brands Magazine for this recognition and I dedicate this award to every single person who is a part of the HNBA family.”
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HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and its subsidiary, HNB General Insurance Ltd (HNBGI), have delivered exceptional financial results for Q2 2025, reinforcing their strong market position while showing robust growth across key metrics and reinforcing its solid position in the market.For the first six months of 2025, the Group’s Gross Written Premium (GWP) rose 30% to Rs. 14.3 billion from Rs. 10.9 billion in 2024. Profit After Tax (PAT) increased 10% to Rs. 519 million (excluding Life Insurance Surplus Transfer), while total assets reached Rs. 70.2 billion, up from Rs. 62.4 billion a year earlier. Investment income climbed 6% to Rs. 4.0 billion. The Group honored Rs. 3.8 billion in net claims and benefits, a 15% increase, reflecting its strong policyholder commitment. Assets Under Management (AUM) grew to Rs. 61 billion, and Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) rose to Rs. 3.46 from Rs. 3.16.“Our strategy has always been straightforward, expand our footprint while delivering greater value to our customers and strive to be consistent at it,” said Mr. Stuart Chapman, Chairman of HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance. “This focus has enabled us to strengthen our position in the market and sustain the strong momentum we have built over the years, positioning us well for the future in order to generate value for all our stakeholders.”HNB Assurance PLC recorded a 35% GWP increase to Rs. 8.6 billion in Q2 2025 from Rs. 6.4 billion in Q2 2024. PAT for the life business grew 17% to Rs. 428 million (excluding Life Insurance Surplus Transfer). The Life Fund expanded to Rs. 44.1 billion from Rs. 35.2 billion, underscoring long-term stability. Net Claims and benefits incurred rose 33% to Rs. 1.9 billion from Rs. 1.4 billion, and investment income increased 8% to Rs. 3.6 billion.“Our strategic focus on expanding our product offerings and enhancing customer service has yielded impressive results,” said Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director/CEO of HNB Assurance PLC. “The double-digit growth in our GWP and Life Fund, coupled with a significant increase in claims paid, demonstrates our commitment to our customers and our strong financial foundation.”HNB General Insurance Ltd (HNBGI) achieved Rs. 5.6 billion in GWP for the six months, a 23% increase from 2024, and settled claims worth Rs. 2.1 billion. The company’s total growth of 23% more than doubled the industry average which was at 11%. Its non-motor portfolio delivered the highest industry growth at 35% versus 4% sector growth, driven by the fire and engineering segment which posted an exceptional 49% growth against the industry’s 4%.“Our ability to stay ahead of the industry comes down to two things, the dedication of our people and the strength of our business model, which is to staying closely aligned to emerging trends and other developments taking place within the General Insurance industry,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, Executive Director/CEO of HNB General Insurance. “We have seen strong growth in our GWP, managed our contract liabilities wisely and delivered a healthy boost in profits. Additionally, this quarter was extra special with the launch of HNBGI NEXA, our AI-powered chatbot, a clear indication that as we are getting bigger, we are getting better.”
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