HNB Assurance PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Lakshman Silva and Dr. Sankalpa Gamwarige as Independent Non-Executive Directors to its Board with effect from 1 January 2024.
Mr. Lakshman Silva is the former CEO/Director of DFCC Bank PLC. He started his professional career at the Department of Inland Revenue of Sri Lanka and joined the DFCC Banking Group in 1987. He was seconded to the service of DFCC Vardhana Bank in 2003 and functioned as Chief Operating Officer until his appointment as CEO/Executive Director in January 2010. Held the position of Deputy CEO /Director of DFCC Bank PLC from October 2015 and was appointed as CEO /Director in August 2017.
Until his retirement in December 2021, he was Chairman of DFCC Consulting Ltd., Lanka Industrial Estates Ltd., and Synapsys Ltd. (subsidiary companies of DFCC Bank PLC) as well as the Chairman of Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd. and Sri Lanka Banks' Association (Guarantee) Ltd. He also held the position of Chairman of Acuity Partners Ltd., the joint venture company of DFCC Bank PLC. In addition, he was Chairman/Director of Lanka Ventures Ltd., LVL Energy Fund PLC and Director LankaClear Ltd.
Silva was a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), and Board of Management of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.
At present he serves as an Independent Director at Seylan Bank PLC, Independent Director of Finetech Consultancy Ltd, while serving as Chairman and Director of Panasian Power PLC and its subsidiary companies. He also serves as Member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Silva is a past President of the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka. He holds a BCom (Sp.) from the Kelaniya University and an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the Sri Jayewardenepura University. He is an Associate Member of the Association of Development Financial Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).
Dr. Sankalpa Gamwarige, PhD is an Innovative Digital Transformational specialist and Tech Talent Enabler with a 20+ year Digital Product Engineering and Electronics Engineering background. He is a member of Global Leadership team of Nagarro, a Digital Product Engineering Company Listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, with a global team of over 19,000 Digital Specialists across 35 different countries.
Prior to joining Nagarro, he was General Manager and Vice President of Engineering at Zone 24x7 a family-owned Digital Product Company with Operations in USA, UK, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. During his 16 years of Engineering Leadership career at Zone24x7, he led the teams towards: overall winner of the National Best Quality Software Award (NBQSA) 2015, winner of R&D category at Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2015, Presidential Awards for the highest Value-Added Exporter of the Hi-tech/Innovative Sector 2014, 2015 and 2016. Sankalpa has contributed many US Patents filed and owned by Zone24x7. Further, the academic papers published by him based on his PhD research have been extensively cited.
Sankalpa has voluntarily contributed to many national initiatives and forums including SLASSCOM, TRACE, National Innovation Agency (NIA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Export Development Board (EDB), Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), serving in various capacities such as Advisory and Board level. In addition, he is/was a member of the Board of Studies - Faculty of Graduate Studies and Academic Committee of BIT external degree program – Faculty of IT, Moratuwa University.
Jul
HNB Life PLC entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at delivering enhanced value and protection solutions to medical professionals across Sri Lanka.Through this collaboration, GMOA members will gain access to tailored life insurance solutions from HNB Life, complemented by a range of exclusive benefits and value-added features designed to support their long-term financial security and protection needs.Speaking at the MOU signing, Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer of HNB Life PLC, Lasitha Wimalaratne, stated, "At HNB Life, we are committed to creating meaningful solutions that address the evolving needs of different customer segments. This MOU signing with GMOA represents an important step in extending specialized protection and wealth creation opportunities to Sri Lanka's medical community. We are pleased to collaborate with GMOA and offer enhanced benefits, enabling members to secure their future and that of their loved ones with greater confidence."Sharing his thoughts, Dr. Sanjeewa Tennekone, President of GMOA, stated, "The wellbeing and financial security of our members remain a priority for the GMOA. We are pleased to enter into this collaboration with HNB Life, which offers our membership access to a tailored solution with added benefits. We believe this initiative will provide meaningful value and support our members in planning for their long-term financial goals."Commenting on the significance of the collaboration, Harindra Ramasinghe, Executive Vice President / Chief Business Officer Advisor Distribution of HNB Life PLC, stated, "Medical professionals dedicate their lives to caring for others, and it is equally important that they have access to financial solutions that safeguard their own future. Through this collaboration, we are able to provide GMOA members with a comprehensive proposition that combines investment, protection, long-term value, and exclusive benefits designed to complement their professional and personal aspirations."Mr. Prabath Sugathadasa, Secretary of the GMOA, stated, "This collaboration with HNB Life reflects our ongoing commitment to identifying opportunities that enhance the overall wellbeing of our members. Beyond professional development, financial security is an important aspect of long-term stability for medical professionals. We are pleased to collaborate with HNB Life to provide our members with access to tailored life insurance solutions and exclusive benefits that will support them in planning for the future with confidence."
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Jul
As part of its ongoing transformation journey following the transition to HNB Life, the company has introduced a refreshed professional identity for its sales force along with a new digital learning platform. These initiatives reflect HNB Life’s commitment to building a digitally enabled and highly skilled team focused on delivering greater value to customers.HNB Life has elevated the traditional “Advisor” role to “Life Planner”, marking a significant step in strengthening professionalism and enhancing the way its sales force engages with customers. This new identity reflects a more modern and purpose-driven approach, where Life Planners go beyond providing financial advice to become trusted partners who understand life goals, offer meaningful guidance, and help customers plan their financial future with confidence.This transformation is driven by the belief that customers today expect more than advice. They seek professionals who can support them through different life stages with clarity and trust.Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe, EVP / Chief Business Officer, Advisor Distribution Channel of HNB Life, stated: “This transformation marks an important step in how we prepare our people for the future. With the introduction of the Life Planner identity and NexE, we are not just enhancing training, we are reshaping how our advisors grow, think, and deliver value. Our focus is to build a highly capable, digitally empowered team that can guide customers with confidence through every stage of life. This is a key milestone in strengthening both our people and our purpose as HNB Life.”To support this elevated role and enable continuous development, HNB Life has introduced NexE, the new identity of its Learning Management System (LMS). NexE is derived from the phrase “Next Era of Education” and represents a next-generation digital learning platform designed exclusively for HNB Life Life Planners.Senior Vice President / Head of Training & Development at HNB Life, Mr. Shiran Fernando, added, “NexE is more than a learning platform, it is a Personal Growth Engine designed to support continuous development at every stage of a Life Planner’s journey. It enables learning that is flexible, structured, and outcome-driven, ensuring our teams are equipped with the right knowledge and skills at the right time. By combining digital learning with clear career pathways, we are creating an environment where growth is continuous and performance is future-ready. This learning journey will also directly support the transition into the Life Planner role, helping our salesforce strengthen the capabilities needed to succeed in this elevated identity”
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Jun
As HNB Life enters a new chapter following its transition from HNB Assurance to HNB Life, the company continues to build on a proud 25-year legacy of protecting and empowering Sri Lankans. Marking this milestone through meaningful community engagement, HNB Life celebrated the Vesak season with a series of initiatives centered on gratitude, togetherness, and shared blessings.The celebrations commenced with a special effort to recognize and promote local entrepreneurs who contribute to the vibrant Vesak season each year. By shining a spotlight on small business owners operating Vesak-related stalls and ventures, HNB Life sought to support their livelihoods while encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit that strengthens communities across the country.The company further extended its involvement through a series of activities at Lankaramaya in Anuradhapura, including the painting of the sacred stupa and participation in several Vesak-related community events, bringing together employees, partners, and well-wishers.As HNB Life begins this new era, the Vesak season served as a meaningful reminder of the relationships and trust that have shaped the company's journey over the past 25 years. The transition from HNB Assurance to HNB Life represents more than a change in name, it reflects the company's continued evolution and renewed commitment to helping individuals and families protect what matters most while achieving long-term financial wellbeing.The Vesak initiatives were carried out with the intention of sharing positivity and seeking blessings for customers, employees, business partners, and communities across Sri Lanka. They also serve as a precursor to a series of Poson-related activities planned for the coming weeks, further reinforcing the company's commitment to engaging with communities and celebrating the values that bring people together.
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