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Ceylinco Life crowned Sri Lanka’s most popular life insurer for record 15th year

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Ceylinco Life representatives led by Director Devaan Cooray (centre) at the 2021 SLIM Peoples Awards ceremony.

Sri Lankans have voted Ceylinco Life the ‘Peoples Life Insurance Service Provider of the Year’ for the 15th consecutive year, making the country’s life insurance leader the only company in its sector to win the coveted SLIM Peoples Award every year since the inception of the awards programme.

This emphatic reaffirmation of popularity at the 2021 edition of these awards has only been outdone in longevity by Ceylinco Life’s performance, coming as it did a month after the company’s financial results showed that it had retained market leadership in Sri Lanka’s life insurance industry for the 17th successive year.

Considered the hallmark awards event of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the SLIM Peoples Awards honours the country’s top brands across multiple sectors each year. The selection of winners is based on a nationwide quantitative face-to-face survey covering males and females between the ages of 15 to 60, over a period of five months using a structured questionnaire. Respondents are asked to mention their favourite brands and personalities across various categories, with those receiving the highest nominations being declared as the winners.

“Ceylinco Life has been helping Sri Lankans de-risk their future for more than three decades through the safety net of life insurance, as well as the many additional benefits the company extends to its policyholders,” the company’s General Manager – Marketing Samitha Hemachandra said. “The SLIM Peoples Award reflects the strong and enduring bonds Ceylinco Life has built not only with policyholders, but with the larger populace through its many engagements and community initiatives.”

The 2021 SLIM Peoples Awards presentation was the fifth year that the Peoples Insurance Service Provider of the Year was awarded separately to Life and General Insurance companies, following the segregation of these segments of insurance by law in 2015. In the 10 years that preceded the segregation, Ceylinco Insurance PLC comprising of Ceylinco Life and Ceylinco General Insurance, won the award every year.

Ceylinco Life ended 2020 with assets of Rs 150 billion, total income of Rs 36.9 billion, premium income of Rs 22.1 billion, a Life Fund of Rs 106.7 billion, an investment portfolio with a value in excess of Rs 133.7 billion and pre-tax profit of Rs 8.7 billion.

Sri Lanka’s leading life insurer for more than half of the 33 years it has been in existence, and certified as a ‘Great Workplace’ in Sri Lanka by Great Place to Work®, Ceylinco Life was ranked the ‘Most Valuable Life Insurance Brand’ in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance in 2020, named the ‘Best Life Insurer in Sri Lanka’ for the seventh consecutive year by World Finance, also in 2020, and accorded an ‘Honourable Mention’ as one of the ‘Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka’ in 2019-20 by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK.

Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies and is acknowledged as a benchmark in the local insurance sector for innovation, product research and development, customer service, professional development, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

 

 



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Amal Niroshan Attanayake appointed Chairman Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited

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Amal Niroshan Attanayake, a highly experienced business professional with both local and international experience, has been appointed the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.

The official letter of appointment was presented to Mr Attanayake on Friday (13) by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, at the Ministry premises.

Mr. Attanayake, an alumnus of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, brings over 25 years of high-level experience in local and international business fields. During his school years, he served as a President’s Scout and later graduated with honours from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has also served as the Secretary of the University Sports Association and represented Sri Lanka in international tennis tournaments.

In addition to creating a number of local and international brands, Attanayake has organised and managed several international exhibitions in South Asia and Sri Lanka. He also has extensive expertise in modern technology and digitalisation.

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‘Landmark moment for Islamic Finance in Sri Lanka’

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Dignitaries at the ‘Sukuk’ launch

When Vidullanka PLC announced it was launching Sri Lanka’s first listed Sukuk—a Shariah-compliant, asset-backed debt instrument—it wasn’t just another financial product hitting the market. It was a landmark moment for Islamic Finance in the country. At the helm of this groundbreaking initiative was Riyaz Sangani, Chief Executive Officer of Vidullanka PLC, who, along with a visionary team of arrangers and advisors, ushered in a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s capital market history.

“We believe renewable energy and Islamic finance are natural partners,” Sangani remarked in the press briefing in Colombo recently underscoring how Vidullanka’s asset-rich, sustainability-driven operations make it an ideal candidate for structuring Shariah-compliant financing. This alignment not only enhanced Vidullanka’s funding options but opened the door for a new class of investors seeking ethical and interest-free investment vehicles.

With Sri Lanka’s financial sector still emerging from a turbulent period marked by instability and credit tightness, Vidullanka’s Rs. 500 million Sukuk issue signals a calculated pivot toward financial innovation. For Sangani, the move is more than strategic—it’s symbolic. “This issuance is a stepping stone, he said, expressing hope it would inspire further diversification in Sri Lanka’s Islamic finance ecosystem.

The two-tranche Sukuk—offered in both fixed and floating rate structures—has been rated A+ (lka) by Fitch Ratings and secured by tangible assets and designated cash reserves. It also adheres strictly to Shariah principles, certified by a panel of reputed scholars, including Prof. Aishath Muneeza and Moulavi Mohammed Siraj Najubudeen.

Behind the scenes, the Sukuk’s success was driven by the unwavering dedication of partners like Eshani Thenuwara, Senior Vice President at NDB Investment Bank. Her team had begun work on the product long before formal regulatory frameworks were in place.

“It has been a fulfilling journey of learning and overcoming many obstacles,” Thenuwara noted. “Vidullanka was the perfect partner—dedicated to Shariah-compliant finance as a matter of policy, not just convenience.” NDB Investment Bank served both as Manager and Joint Arranger for the issue, alongside Adl Capital.

Ishrat Rauff, Managing Director of Adl Capital, offered a broader view of the accomplishment. “This is a product that has been on the industry’s wishlist for decades, he said, pointing to the perseverance it took to get regulatory buy-in from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He described the structuring exercise as “the most complex” in his nearly 30-year career.

Adl Capital’s involvement went beyond technical advisory—it helped bridge gaps between regulatory expectations, investor confidence, and religious compliance. “We sincerely hope this sets a precedent for more ethically aligned financial products in the market, Rauff added

By Ifham Nizam ✍️

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ICC unveils sustainable, cost-effective housing solution with innovative Durra Kit Houses

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In a bold move to revolutionise the construction industry, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Limited (ICC), one of Sri Lanka’s leading engineering and construction companies, has introduced an innovative, eco-friendly housing solution aimed at shaping a more sustainable future.

Celebrating 40 years of construction excellence, ICC remains true to its vision of being the most innovative and responsible developer, contractor, and engineering solutions provider on a global stage. Its latest venture—Durra Kit Houses—embodies this vision, offering a modern alternative to conventional building methods through cutting-edge design and environmental responsibility.

Durra panels, a remarkable construction material made from compressed straw bound with a zero-emission adhesive, form the foundation of the prefabricated Durra Kit Houses. They deliver superior thermal insulation that maintains stable indoor temperatures while dramatically reducing energy consumption. Homeowners can expect significantly lower heating and cooling costs, alongside a reduced carbon footprint.

Beyond energy efficiency, Durra panels offer excellent soundproofing, creating a peaceful and comfortable indoor environment. Their fire resistance, pest-proofing, and mould resistance ensure safety and durability, making these homes as practical as they are sustainable.

A standout feature of the Durra Kit Houses is their cost-effectiveness. The prefabrication process enables rapid assembly, reducing construction times and labour expenses. Additionally, the energy-efficient design offers long-term savings on utility bills.

The design is highly customisable, allowing for a variety of aesthetic and functional preferences—from sleek modern styles to more traditional layouts. Its flexible structure also simplifies future expansions or modifications.

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