HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) released its Integrated Annual Report for the financial year 2016 which highlighted the growth in Life Insurance as well as the General Insurance business. The Annual Report of the Company showcased its journey of 15 years and the impact which the business has created on all stakeholders throughout its journey. Sharing her views on the performance of HNBA and HNBGI over 2016, Mrs. Rose Cooray, Chairperson of HNBA and HNBGI stated, "It surely was a year of stiff competition across the entire industry. Owing to the regulatory requirements and fulfilling the legal and social obligations, several strategic changes were made in order to secure market share and to achieve a favorable business growth. In comparison with the previous financial results of 2015, I am indeed pleased to state that performance of both HNBA and HNBGI resulted in a 22% top-line growth and a growth of 228% in the bottom-line". "The Life and General Insurance industries in Sri Lanka are highly competitive and dynamic. The Regulatory measures have brought in a framework for the governance structure and the effective use of capital. The Life Insurance industry as a whole recorded a growth of 19% and General Insurance segment posted a growth of 14% as opposed to the growth of the Life Insurance industry of 20% in 2015 and the growth of the General Insurance segment of 15% in 2015. HNBA and HNBGI surpassed the industry growth rates recording growth rates of 27% in its life business and 16% in its general business" she added. Speaking further on the growth perspectives of the Group, Mrs. Cooray added "the Group was able to record a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 647 Million, showcasing a growth of 228% over 2015. This was the highest PAT the Group recorded since its inception. It is important to note that the Group recorded this significant achievement as a result of the turnaround of HNBGI from loss to profit". Sharing his views on the performance of 2016, Deepthi Lokuarachhci, Chief Executive Office of HNBA and HNBGI stated, "2016 was a challenging year for the entire Insurance industry and the key challenges faced included the high settlement of claims which arose from two devastating catastrophes. Yet, the business was successful in deploying its strategies and capabilities across the Group which led both businesses to yield a profitable growth. The transition from the solvency regime to the Risk Based Capital (RBC) brought in significant changes in valuing Insurance contract liabilities and regulatory reporting”. Speaking on the performance of each category, Mr. Lokuarachchi stated “the Life business showed a remarkable growth surpassing the industry growth and was able to retain an industry rank of six. HNBA was able to record its highest net profit of Rs. 600 Million as opposed to Rs. 427 Million in 2015. The Life business showed a GWP of Rs. 3,554 Million and a Net Income of Rs. 4,427 Million, whereas the General business showed a GWP of Rs. 3,142 Million and a Net Income of Rs. 2,516 Million. The Life Fund reached an 8.6 Billion Rupee mark over 2016. HNBA was able to declare a maximum bonus of Rs. 54 per Rs. 1,000 to its policy holders and a dividend rate of 8% for policyholders of the fund-based product category. The General Insurance business was able to maintain a healthy balanced mix between the Motor and Non-motor segments. The brand was able to retain its position within the top ten General Insurers of Sri Lanka. With this growth momentum, the Board as well as the Management of HNBA and HNBGI has derived sustainable business strategies which would allow the business to compete in a challenging business environment and to post a steady growth during the course of 2017".
Jul
HNB Assurance PLC entered a strategic partnership with the Faculty of Management and Finance at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, to introduce the HNB Assurance Aspire program. This initiative aims to provide selected high-performing Advisors, Leaders, and Bancassurance Officers with an opportunity to enhance their professional and business skills.Through the HNB Assurance Aspire program, candidates will have the opportunity to obtain a Diploma in Professional and Business Skills (DPBS) from the University of Colombo, with a pathway extending to a degree.Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance, speaking at the launch event, stated "At HNB Assurance, we believe in investing in our sales force and providing them with the best resources and opportunities they need to succeed. The HNB Assurance Aspire Program is initiated with this in mind showcasing our commitment to nurturing talent and helping our advisors and bancassurance officers reach their full potential. In terms of this partnership, we are very excited and thankful to the University of Colombo for giving us the opportunity to partner them and are proud to be the only insurance company in the country to form such a partnership with one of the best universities in the country. Personally, I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this program on our teams and our company.”The Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo, Senior Professor H. D. Karunaratne stated, “HNB Assurance has made an effective decision by choosing the best higher educational institute of the country as its trainer”. Moreover, he highlighted that “University of Colombo is not only the best university in the country, also the only higher educational institute in the country which has been listed under the top 1000 universities in the world. Therefore, the trainees of the company will obtain a global recognition after the completion of the programme.”Mr. Shiran Fernando, Head Sales Training and Development at HNB Assurance, added, "The Aspire program is a significant step forward in our training and development efforts. By collaborating with the University of Colombo, we are ensuring that our high performers receive top-notch education and training, equipping them with the skills they need to excel further in their careers. In the first program, 40 candidates will be selected for the Colombo University program. I must convey my sincere thanks to both teams from the University of Colombo, Faculty of Management and Finance and HNB Assurance for their efforts in getting this program off the ground."Dean of the Faculty of Management and Finance at the University of Colombo, Professor H.M. Nihal Hennayake, expressing his thoughts on this partnership stated "We are delighted to collaborate with HNB Assurance on the HNB Assurance Aspire program. This initiative aligns with our broader vision of the faculty in providing high-quality education and professional development opportunities to professionals who can benefit from advanced education, training and skills enhancement. As the facilitators of this program, I must state, our aim is not only supporting individual career growth but driving excellence that will benefit the broader industry. I eagerly await the positive outcomes of this collaboration and the long-term impact it will have on the participants and their organization."Dr. Sajitha Dishanka, the Head of the Management Consultancy Unit of the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo stated, “Our unit is fully equipped with required resource personnel and tailor-made programme curricula to meet training requirements of the corporate sector”. Further, he assured that HNB Assurance will receive the expected value provided through its learning partners and be a company with a novel and impactful experience through the inaugurated diploma programme.
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Jul
Setting a new benchmark for itself, HNB Assurance PLC bagged the prestigious Gold Award at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity 2024, hosted by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP). The company’s project to streamline its procurement operations while reducing and lead time was recognized for its impact and use of automation.Aligned to the company’s broader objective of efficiency improvement and value creation, this award-winning project is part of HNB Assurance's strategy to improve operational efficiency and achieve 100% paperless operations by 2026. HNB Assurance PLC’s CEO, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, shared his thoughts "Winning this award is a great honor as it recognizes our commitment to enhancing our operations whereby helping us provide better value to our stakeholders. As a company, we continuously seek opportunities to embrace automation and digitization, so, credit to the Business Process Excellence Team along with IT, Finance, Procurement, and all other teams who collaborated and contributed to this remarkable achievement. I’m certain this recognition will motivate our teams to keep pushing the boundaries of excellence and reinforce our commitment to operational efficiency.”The Lean Six Sigma DMAIC methodology was used as the teams successfully improved the lead time of the procurement process. The DMAIC methodology can be used to identify bottlenecks, implement solutions, and achieve measurable improvements which in this case improved the overall efficiency of the company’s procurement operations."In this fast-paced digital world, staying ahead and meeting evolving customer demands requires us to improve and innovate continuously.” Stated Mrs. Geethani Saram, Head of Business Process Excellence and Strategy. “Internal processes are crucial, especially in the service industry, prompting us to reassess our methods and explore avenues for enhancement. This award resulted from a long-term strategic initiative by HNBA to empower employees for scientific recognition of operational gaps and their resolution through adaptation of Lean Six Sigma methodology. The framework facilitated identifying our procurement process as a critical area for improvement and implementing effective solutions to speed up and set a new standard. My sincere thanks to SLAAQP for this recognition as it validate our efforts and inspires us to continuously innovate and drive efficiency across all our processes.”
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Jun
The “Golden Awards 2024” hosted by HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance, celebrated and recognized the outstanding achievements of top performers, including network management and branch managers from Hatton National Bank, for their significant contributions to the growth of HNBA and HNBGI. The year 2023 was an outstanding period for both HNBA and HNBGI, with impressive financial performances which proved their partnership with HNB to be one of the best in the industry. Mr. Damith Pallewatte, Acting Chief Executive Officer of HNB, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, opined, “Having participated in this event for several years, it is incredibly heartening to witness the sustained growth and progress achieved by both HNBA and HNBGI. As we look to the future, I see immense potential and opportunity. I am confident that by continuing to innovate and prioritizing customer-centric solutions, we as a group, can not only maintain our strong position but also dominate the market. Let me also remind you that the bank is fully committed to supporting both HNBA and HNBGI, so let us get out there and redefine the landscape of banking and insurance.”The newly appointed Chairman of HNBA and HNBGI, Mr. Stuart Chapman, stated, “I’m delighted to address this wonderful gathering where we honor and recognize one of our most important stakeholders, HNB. The trust and collaboration between our institutions is what sets this partnership apart from others. As custodians of this relationship, I am confident that our combined efforts will ensure we deliver top-tier insurance solutions to our customers, meeting their needs with the highest standards of service and trust. I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the award winners and thank the members of the management of HNB for their continued support. Further, as our companies, HNB, HNBA and HNBGI, embrace leadership transformations, I’d like to thank Mr. Jonathan Alles former MD of HNB and our very own former Chairperson Mrs. Rose Cooray for their contributions as well.”The Global Banking and Finance Review, UK, for the fourth consecutive year, honored HNBA as the Best Life Bancassurance Provider, while HNBGI was awarded the Best General Bancassurance Provider for the second consecutive year reflecting the success both HNBA and HNGI has maintained with HNB over the years.
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