HNB Assurance proudly announced the achievement of its esteemed Chief Business Officers, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe – CBO, Advisor Distribution Channel and Mr. Sanesh Fernando – CBO, Partnerships, who clinched top honors at the prestigious General Agency Management Awards (GAMA) held in the United States of America. This historic win marks the first time any Sri Lankan professional have been recognized at this ceremony.
Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe was honored with the prestigious Master Firm Award (MFA), celebrating his remarkable achievements and exemplary leadership in the Advisor Distribution domain. Similarly, Mr. Sanesh Fernando's exceptional performance earned him the distinguished Master Multiline Award (MMA), highlighting his significant contributions to the Partnership Channel of HNBA. These accolades underscore their contributions and impact, showcasing their commitment to excellence within their respective roles. The GAMA Global Awards, renowned for recognizing excellence in financial services leadership, serve as a testament to their outstanding professionalism and influence in the field.
Expressing his thoughts on this remarkable achievement, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, CEO of HNB Assurance, stated, "I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our CBOs Harindra Ramasinghe and Sanesh Fernando on their historic win at the GAMA Awards. This recognition not only reflects their exceptional skill and dedication but also highlights the caliber of professionals within HNB Assurance. I’m certain that this recognition will serve as a great motivation for both our CBOs as well as their teams which will propel us as an organization to even greater heights."
In response to their success, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe commented, "Receiving the Master Firm Award at the GAMA Awards is personally a great honor for me. I owe this recognition to my incredible team and want to acknowledge the leadership at HNBA, who have been clear in communicating their vision and have always served as a source of guidance and support, which I believe is the bedrock of HNBA's success. Over the past 03 years we as a company have maintained a consistent growth rate in excess 20% and the Advisor Distribution Channel has also contributed equally. Last year, we recorded a 37% increase in NBP growth, a robust 23% growth in GWP and received a prestigious international recognition from Insurance Asia for the best Distribution Initiative, which solidifies our commitment to excellence in serving our clients and advancing the insurance industry as a whole.”
Mr. Sanesh Fernando also expressed his thoughts, stating, "Receiving the Master Multiline Award is a humbling experience and I am deeply honored to be recognized among such esteemed professionals. This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and support of my exceptional team. I am immensely proud to lead such a talented group of individuals who continuously strive for excellence in serving our clients. Further, receiving the Best Bancassurance Provider Award by Global Banking and Finance Review for the fourth consecutive year recently, serves as a testament to the channel's commitment to innovation and customer-centricity. I’d like to take a moment to thank the our Bancassurance and broker partners along with the all other business stakeholders for their continued support.”
Oct
HNB Assurance PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Poornima Ranawaka as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director to its Board with effect from 01 October 2025.Poornima Ranawaka is a distinguished Attorney-at-Law with nearly 19 years of legal practice and more than 22 years of experience across the banking, Insurance, finance, and education sectors. She holds extensive expertise in litigation, risk management, regulatory compliance, human resources, and recoveries. Over the years, she has held several senior leadership positions, including Deputy General Manager – Compliance and Legal at Axis Bank Sri Lanka, Head of Compliance at Pan Asia Banking Corporation and Allianz Insurance Lanka Limited, and Consumer Litigation Manager at Nations Trust Bank PLC.She has been a trailblazer in her field, serving as Vice President and General Secretary of the Association of Compliance Officers of Banks, an Executive Member of the Risk Professionals Association, and a member of Sri Lanka's FATCA advisory committee. She also represented the country during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluation in 2013. She is currently the General Secretary of the Alumni Association of Sri Lanka Law College.She holds prestigious academic and professional qualifications, including First Class Honours from Sri Lanka Law College and an LL.M. in International Trade Law from the University of Wales. She has also completed a postgraduate diploma in International Compliance from the University of Manchester. Additionally, she is an Associate Member of the International Compliance Association (UK). Her contributions to the field have earned her honorary professorships in Law Teaching from IEMS, India (ACTD, USA).Mrs. Ranawaka has fulfilled the requirements for her PhD in Management at Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia, and is currently awaiting her convocation. She is deeply committed to education, served as a Commercial Law lecturer and the Chief Examiner at Sri Lanka Law College. In addition, she served as the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Committee at Sri Lanka Law College from 2022 to 2024, playing a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the institution's academic framework. Her outstanding contributions to legal education were internationally recognized when she was awarded the prestigious International Achievers Award 2024 in India for her "Most Iconic Role in Law Teaching.
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Oct
HNB Assurance PLC proudly introduces HANA, HNB Assurance Next-Generation Assistant, novel AI-powered chatbot designed to transform how customers connect with them. Developed as part of HNB Assurance’s drive to embrace cutting-edge technology and reimagine customer service, HANA delivers instant, 24/7 assistance, making insurance simpler, faster and more intuitive for every policyholder. From policy inquiries to claims guidance and company updates, HANA offers seamless, personalized interactions that remove the need for wait times on calls or branch visits.Speaking on the launch, Lasitha Wimalaratne, Executive Director and CEO of HNB Assurance PLC, said, “At HNB Assurance, our priority has always been to place the customer at the heart of everything we do. With HANA, we are taking that promise to a new level by introducing a virtual assistant who is always available, always informed and always ready to help. This is not just a launch, it is a reflection of the significant investments and digital roadmap we have developed over the past few years to leverage technology in making insurance easier and more accessible to meet the evolving needs of our customers. My sincere thanks and congratulations to all the teams involved in making this milestone a reality and elevating the way we serve our customers.”Highlighting the vision behind HANA, Suneth Jayamanne, Chief Information Officer / General Manager of HNB Assurance, stated, “Implementing HANA is more than deploying a chatbot, it is about embedding intelligence into every interaction. Powered by advanced natural language processing (NLP), machine learning algorithms and deep integration with our core systems, HANA is designed to handle complex queries, learn from vast datasets, and deliver responses with human-like understanding. We certainly believe that his launch is an exciting first step in our broader strategy of using AI to create meaningful, customer-centric experiences. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to CodeGen International (Private) Limited for their invaluable contribution in turning this vision into reality.”As one of Sri Lanka’s leading life insurers, HNB Assurance continues to invest in new digital capabilities that deliver convenience and confidence, allowing customers to engage with the company on their own terms. Customers can now meet, experience and explorer HANA by accessing the website, www.HNBAssurance.com.
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Oct
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) recorded outstanding success of its sales team at the Life Industry Sales Competition held during the NAFLIA Conference, where the Company secured eleven prestigious accolades across both the Advisor Channel and the Partnership Channel. Demonstrating exceptional performance and commitment, the winners from HNBA delivered outstanding performances at a national level, showcasing the strength of the organizationThe accolades spanned a diverse range of categories including Fast Starters, Advisors, Supervisors and Bancassurance Officers, reflecting the collective strength and capability of HNBA’s sales force.Among the winners, Ms. Gammeda Liyanage Deepa Shamalie was recognized as Best Advisor – Silver, while Mr. Anjula Prasath Thilakarathne earned the Best Advisor – Bronze award. In the Bancassurance category, Ms. Dinushika Ratnayake was awarded Best Bancassurance Officer – Silver, and Mr. J. I. M. Fernando secured the Best Bancassurance Officer – Bronze.In the supervisory categories, Mr. P. J. K. K. Jayarathne distinguished himself by winning the Best Supervisor – Gold, while Mr. Alan Baker, Regional Partnership Head – Northern Region, was honored with the Best Supervisor – Bronze award.HNBA’s Bancassurance Fast Starters also made their mark at a national level, with Ms. V. Kirushalini achieving Gold, Ms. Lakmali Pusalle securing Silver, and Ms. Thilini Lakmali being recognized with Bronze.In the Advisor Fast Starter category, Ms. Bhagya Sewwandi triumphed with the Gold Award, while Ms. Anoma Kumari followed with the Silver Award, completing a remarkable sweep across the board.This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the success of HNB Assurance’s sales force, whose consistent efforts continue to uplift the Company’s standing in the insurance industry. The recognition gained at the Life Industry Sales Competition not only celebrates individual achievement but also underscores the organization’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving excellence across all levels of its operations.
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