HNBA News

HNB Assurance PLC recently hosted its highly anticipated Sales Convention for 2023, filled with glitz and glamour. Held at the Shangri-La Colombo, the gala event welcomed over 900 participants nationwide, solidifying its status as the largest convention in HNBA's history.

The Advisor Distribution Channel was responsible for delivering a remarkable growth in New Business premium by 37% and GWP growth by 24% which contributed to the overall success of HNBA, in 2023. The convention served as a platform to honor and celebrate the remarkable achievements of over 500 outstanding performances of the Advisor Distribution Channel, under the categories Bronze, Silver, Gold, Super Gold, Premier Gold and Grand Awards. Further, 92 MDRT qualifiers along with 03 COT and 02 TOT winners were felicitated during the event. The pinnacle awards of the night for ‘Best Sales Advisor’ and ‘Most Valued Distribution Manager’ were awarded to Ms. Shamali Liyanage and Mr. Lakmal De Silva. 

Mrs. Rose Cooray, Chairperson of HNB Assurance PLC, expressed her delight at the outstanding performance of the Advisor Distribution Channel during the year 2023, stating, "I’m extremely proud to be here tonight where we honor, in my opinion, the heartbeat of HNB Assurance - our Advisor force. Year after year, despite the challenges that were thrown their way, the advisor force has consistently demonstrated resilience and driven towards our company's goals, which is why we can confidently claim that we have the best advisors in the country. I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners today, as we move forward, I am confident that our pursuit of excellence will continue to propel us towards greater heights, while we continue serve and earn trust of our policyholders.”

CEO of HNB Assurance, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne was full of praise for the achievements of the Advisor Distribution Channel, stating “02 years ago when we locked in on the goal of achieving 10% market share by 2026, we knew it certainly wasn’t going to be an easy task. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our Advisor Distribution Channel, we've not only made significant strides but consistently surpassed expectations, while moving towards our goal. To grow twice the industry consistently is no easy task, it takes a great team and an extraordinary effort to deliver results like this. As we celebrate achievements and other important milestones, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone. Congratulations once again and keep up the good work.”

“While meeting KPIs remains crucial, our primary focus as a company is on elevating the average income of our advisors,” emphasized Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe, Chief Business Officer – Advisor Distribution Channel. “Being part of this event, the largest Sales Convention ever hosted by HNB Assurance, is truly an honor. It signifies not just our growth as a company but also realizes our commitment to empowering our advisors. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed field management team, which includes our SBU Heads, Zonal Managers, Cluster and Branch managers, trainers and every other individual who played a pivotal role in supporting the efforts of our dedicated sales force. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners. Your hard work, dedication and exceptional performance have truly set you apart.”

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.”

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has once again secured the prestigious title of "Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka" for the fourth consecutive year, recognized by the Global Banking and Finance Review. This award underscores HNBA's strong partnerships and commitment to excellence while maintaining its dominant position within the industry.

Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA, stating, “It is indeed an immense honor to be acknowledged as the Best Life Bancassurance provider in the country by the esteemed Global Banking and Finance Review - UK, marking our fourth consecutive win. This achievement truly is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our teams, who continuously push boundaries, foster partnerships and redefine industry benchmarks."

He further emphasized the significance of HNBA's Partnership Channel in their business operations, “As we strive towards our goal to attain 10% market share the partnership channel has a crucial role to play. I’m extremely proud of our team for this achievement and I’m certain we will continue to push boundaries and reach even greater heights.”

"We're thrilled by HNBA's achievement of being the Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year and are committed to ensuring that our partnership grows even further. By leveraging our strengths as a Group, we are consistently exploring ways to keep delivering top-notch solutions to our customers. My congratulations to HNBA and all the teams involved in this impressive achievement", opined, Mr. Supun Dias, Assistant General Manager - Network Management at Hatton National Bank.

Mr. Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer – Partnerships at HNBA, reflected on the significance of this achievement, stating, “Without a doubt, this achievement stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire Partnership Team, for which I extend my deepest gratitude. A special mention goes out to the management of Hatton National Bank and all our other banking partners for their continued support.  To receive this prestigious recognition for the fourth-year running is a clear indication of our relentless commitment to excellence and the efforts made by our team. I’m confident that moving forward, we as a team are committed to delivering exceptional value to our customers collectively contributing to the larger vision of HNBA.”