Business
Union Assurance Circle of Excellence relaunched with bigger & better rewards
Union Assurance Circle of Excellence, the most exclusive Bancassurance rewards scheme in the Sri Lankan Insurance industry, has been relaunched with a bigger and better rewards scheme to recognise the company’s high-performing Insurance Relationship Officers (IROs), Regional Managers, and Zonal Managers.
Commenting on the relaunch, Vindya Cooray, the Chief Bancassurance Officer of Union Assurance, stated, “Being the Largest Bancassurance Provider in the country, we believe that our staff is our biggest asset. The Circle of Excellence was relaunched as we strive to continue benchmarking our premier rewards and recognition scheme with that of international standards. We want to reward our valuable staff who provide superior customer service with bigger and better rewards for their hard work and dedication.”
The Union Assurance Circle of Excellence offers a wide array of financial, lifestyle, recognition, skill development, and membership rewards. Amongst the array of benefits offered includes a luxury vehicle, foreign tours, significant cash rewards, opportunities for career advancement through exclusive training and development programmes, and customised Circle of Excellence merchandise.
While rewarding high performers, this programme also intends to develop a customer-centric and enthusiastic workforce capable of recognising superior customer need assessments and service delivery to enrich the purchasing and user experience of customers.
Moreover, the Union Assurance Circle of Excellence acted as an incentive to the Insurance Relationship Officers to achieve a record-breaking performance in 2021, assisting the Company to achieve industry-leading status by recording 300 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifiers.
With many accolades under its belt, the Bancassurance channel of Union Assurance has grown over the years to become the number one Bancassurance provider in the country, covering over 360 bank branches of six leading bank partners.
Union Assurance is a part of the John Keells Group, one of Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerates. It is among the most awarded Insurance companies in Sri Lanka, completing over three decades of success with a market capitalisation of Rs. 15.9 Bn, a Life Fund of Rs. 47.5 Bn and a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 250% as of September 2021. Set to empower the Sri Lankan Dream, Union Assurance offers Life Insurance solutions that cover education, health, investment, protection, and retirement needs of Sri Lankans. With an island-wide branch network and an over 3,000-strong workforce, Union Assurance continues to invest in people, products, and processes with a customer-centric focus to be responsive to emerging changes in the Life Insurance industry.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Business
IceWarp expands into Sri Lanka, fostering European innovation in collaboration with FentonsIT
IceWarp, a global leader in business communication solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge platform in Sri Lanka, bringing European expertise in email and collaboration solutions to support the country’s evolving business landscape.
This expansion is driven by a strategic partnership with Fentons Information Technology (FIT), the Information Technology arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
The grand launch event held at The Kingsbury Colombo on 4th April, 2025, was graced by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC.
The presence of Adam Paclt, Global CEO of IceWarp, and Pramod Sharda, CEO for India and the Middle East of IceWarp, along with their global team, highlighted the significance of this expansion. Industry experts, government officials, corporate leaders, and CIOs from the banking, financial services and insurance sectors were in attendance as well, reflecting strong local interest in IceWarp’s European expertise.
With this launch, Sri Lankan businesses now have access to an affordable, scalable and secure alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. IceWarp’s advanced Collaboration Suite integrates a wide range of tools into a single, unified platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity. Offering flexible hybrid deployment options and cost-efficient solution, IceWarp enables organisations to optimise their operations without compromising security or functionality.
Ceylon Energy and HJT China have successfully completed the Mahiyangana-Kappalthurei 33kV power distribution lines and the Uhana Gantry as part of Sri Lanka’s Supporting Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project (SESRIP). Funded by the Asian Development Bank ($42 million), SESRIP aims to expand energy access in underserved regions, including conflict-affected areas and provinces like Uva and North Central.
The project’s infrastructure spans over 270 km of 33kV lines, 13 switching gantries, and 2,372 km of low-voltage extensions.
The projects connect 35,000+ households and improve reliability for 493,000+ consumers; integrates renewables to reduce losses.
The projects’ notable components include: Mahiyangana-Bibila Line: 36 km with 147 steel towers and Kappalthurei-Sixth Mile Post Line: 14 km with 58 towers.
Ceylon Energy Chairman Madushanka Fernando hailed it as a ‘new beginning of a brighter era’, emphasising the project’s role in uplifting rural communities and driving sustainable development.
The initiative underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive, reliable energy and climate resilience.
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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