‘Blog It Symposium’

The ‘Blog It Symposium’ hosted by Union Assurance on March 27 at the BMICH, had drawn writers, students and professionals alongside literary giants like Ashok Ferrey. The event was less a corporate gathering and more a cultural movement, symbolising a quiet revolution in Sri Lanka’s journey toward financial empowerment.

Financial literacy, often confined to jargon-filled pamphlets or intimidating technical writeups, has found an unexpected ally in storytelling with Union Assurance’s Blog It initiative, launched years prior, which recognises a universal truth: people connect with stories, not statistics. By inviting bloggers and writers to explore themes like life insurance, savings, and generational wealth through personal narratives, the initiative transforms complex concepts into relatable tales. A mother’s account of securing her child’s education amid economic uncertainty, a young entrepreneur’s journey from debt to stability, or a retiree’s challenges in the rest of his or her life were the seeds of stories that resonated deeply with the writers in the audience especially because they are writing for a society whose financial planning is often overshadowed by day-to-day struggles.

Ashok Ferrey, the keynote speaker asked the audience,” Why do we write? “We write,” he suggested, “to express ourselves in ways that evade the rigid pathways of ordinary consciousness.” Imagine, he said, slipping into a disguise to go to a fancy dress party; that lets you be someone else. Writing, in Ferrey’s vision, operates similarly—it is a costume party for the psyche. “When we write, we shed the constraints of our daylight selves. The keyboard or pen becomes a mirror that reflects not who we are, but who we might invent,” he said.

“These aren’t just blogs,” remarked Lal Medawattegedara, novelist and symposium panelist. “They’re survival guides written in the language of the people.”

Rather than lecturing, Union Assurance has created a platform for dialogue. Winning entries, published in newspapers and shared across social media, turns anonymous writers into local influencers. A gem merchant from Ratnapura, whose blog on gem buying and selling would go viral, encouraging young people in the area to follow suit. A Colombo college student’s poem about her family’s medical debt would inspire a community savings drive. “Financial literacy isn’t about telling people what to do,” said Union Assurance CMO Mahen Gunarathna. “It’s about giving them the tools to write their own futures.”

As the 2025 symposium concluded, the message was clear: financial literacy is not a solo journey but a shared narrative.

In a world where money talks, Union Assurance has mastered a profound lesson: sometimes, the most powerful currency is a story well told. Sri Lankans are not just learning about finances—they’re rewriting their financial destinies with the support of Union Assurance.

By Sanath Nanayakkare