News
AIA reminds you to celebrate diversity everyday

AIA Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces for women for five consecutive years (2018-2022) has dedicated the month of March to celebrate diversity across all strata of women, to reflect on progress made and to call for greater gender equality and inclusivity, not just in the company, but across the country. As usual, AIA celebrates International Women’s Day not just on the 08th of March, but rather an entire month dedicated to recognize, honour and appreciate the role of the woman with a series of carefully curated line of events that are fun, inspirational and educational.
Last year, AIA together with IFC – under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work programme – launched ‘ඇය සුරකින AIA’ – a women’s programme that empowers women across the island and the Company will continue its endeavour to support women to be courageous, confident, to feel valued and appreciated, while ensuring to protect her and provide her with financial security.
Women everywhere want and deserve a future with equal rights and opportunities for all, free from stigma and stereotypes. At AIA Insurance, this is a serious mission. AIA provides numerous benefits for women employees and agents and continues to promote a culture of meritocracy with the aim of providing all employees fair and equal opportunities to bring out the best in them and support them to achieve their career aspirations.
AIA has taken many sustained efforts in this regard and ensured that the Company’s women employees are groomed and encouraged to take up senior leadership roles through a carefully curated unbiased career development process. As a result, today, 41% of AIA’s employees are women, 48% of the sales force are women and 52% among the top 100 high performers. 26% of AIA’s senior management are women with the Company’s women in insurance special roles including 69% in operations and 50% in actuarial. So, there is no limit to their potential.
While a gender inclusive work environment is encouraged, it is noteworthy that at AIA, International Men’s Day is also celebrated each year, to appreciate the strength men bring to all of us. The Company also revamped the ‘New Parents Support Scheme’ where both fathers and mothers can benefit from.
The Company’s commitment goes beyond their employees and extends to their customers, female entrepreneurs and the community as well. AIA is the only Company in Sri Lanka that has conducted a market study on the needs, preferences, and challenges of Sri Lankan women, in collaboration with IFC, to develop a holistic women-centric business strategy. Through the ‘ඇය සුරකින AIA’ platform, AIA hopes to further launch many initiatives for women including employees, agents, customers and community at large. AIA also recently partnered the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) to promote women entrepreneurship across the nation. Further, AIA’s She Protect a first-of-its-kind protection plan provides a higher protection cover to one of the most important customer segments in our market: women. ‘She Protect’ offers a range of optional benefits for women customers to personalise the protection they need based on their lifestyle and desires, for affordable premiums.
AIA is happy to celebrate the progress on diversity, equality and inclusivity, made thus far while not forgetting to keep working towards enabling respect, safety and opportunity for women not only at work but across the country.
Business
National Trade Facilitation Committee Secretariat to be established

In an effort to accelerate trade facilitation commitments and bolster the business landscape in Sri Lanka, a high-level review of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) was conducted at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (7).
The review focused on assessing the progress of trade facilitation commitments and scrutinizing the performance of the NTFC Secretariat. The private sector also voiced their views on expediting actions to ensure the completion of measures ahead of the projected timeline of 2025-2030.
In order to streamline compliance and optimize performance, several directives were issued during the meeting. Firstly, it was decided to establish the NTFC Secretariat under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance. Secondly, immediate measures to be taken to address the staffing requirements of the Secretariat and lastly, the budget allocated for the NTFC Secretariat in 2023, currently under the Department of Customs, was to be transferred to the Ministry of Finance to prioritize pending actions such as the development of the NTFC website and progress reporting system.
During the meeting, deliberations took place concerning the proposed National Single Window, a system aimed at simplifying and expediting trade processes. The participants agreed to expedite the submission of the proposal in a sequential manner to ensure its swift implementation.
News
22 injured in bus – lorry crash at Embulgama

More than 22 persons have sustained injuries when a Sri Lanka Transport Board bus plying from Akkaraipattu to Colombo crashed head on with a lorry at Embulgama on the Colombo – Avisawella Road this morning (09)
The injured had been rushed to the Homagama and Nawagamuwa hospitals. Hanwella Police are conducting investigations.
Business
PM discusses ADB future projects in Sri Lanka with ADB DG and new Country Director

Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Director General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama and newly appointed Country Director Takafumi Kadono held discussions with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Thursday (June 8) at the Temple Trees in Colombo.
The Prime Minister, while welcoming the new Director General thanked the outgoing DG, Chen Chen for the support extended to Sri Lanka during the height of Covid pandemic and the economic crisis. He thanked the ADB for extending short term, immediate contingency support which has helped Sri Lankan economy to recover from the unprecedented crisis within a short period of time. ADB loan funds amounting to USD 380 mn were targeted for enhancing fiscal space and efficient public financial management system as well as strengthening the SME sector with access to finance. Further USD 250 mn was obtained as budgetary support to develop Capital Market.
The Prime Minister made a special mention about ADB’s US$ 333 million emergency assistance to support import of essential items such as fertilizer, medicines and chemicals for water treatment, working capital support to SMEs, and cash transfer to most poor and vulnerable to mitigate the impact of economic crisis.
ADB Director General for South Asia Keinichi Yokohoma, praised the recovery made by Sri Lankan economy and briefed the Prime Minister about the ADB’s mid-term and long-term projects for economic progress and infrastructure development.
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