Business

Insurance industry looks at Bionic Insuring in a ‘new normal’

Published

6 years ago

2021/03/11

COVID-19 has disrupted most businesses globally and the insurance industry is no exception. Given the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, insurers have been compelled to accelerate their digital journeys and holistically digitize their operations. In this regard, the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) hosted a webinar on ‘What does it mean to be a truly bionic insurance company?’ with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as its knowledge partner, on February 23.

Prateek Roongta, MD & Partner, BCG facilitated the event and Pallavi Malani, MD & Partner, BCG delivered the keynote presentation, which was followed by a panel discussion comprising Thushara Ranasinghe, MD / CEO of Ceylinco Life Insurance Limited, Sanjeev Jha, MD and CEO of Fairfirst Insurance, and Pranay Mehrotra, MD & Senior Partner, BCG. The panel discussion was moderated by Chilman Jain, Principal, BCG Colombo.

Pallavi Malani of BCG, while addressing 60+ CXOs from Sri Lanka’s insurance industry, explained what being ‘bionic’ means and outlined the imperatives for becoming a bionic insurer in the post-COVID-19 world. In order to achieve bionic outcomes, insurers need to integrate human elements with technology and not replace one with another. “There is a need to empower talent and enhance efficiencies by leveraging the right tech stack and data. However, businesses will still have to engage with new talent pools and create agile teams to effectively make the shift to bionic ways of working”, she said.

Pallavi further discussed the five archetypes within which distinguished bionic players fall – i) Sales digitizers, ii) Data players, iii) Operations optimizers, iv) Innovators, and v) Digital natives. The discussion was made real with the example of PingAn, the largest Life Insurance company in China. Despite a salesforce of 1.3 million agents, PingAn has a ‘digital attacker agency distribution’ model and boasts of approximately 40% higher productivity than the second largest player in China. It has progressed from leveraging traditional technologies to mobile internet, to now using artificial intelligence (AI) across agent recruitment, training, agent management, sales model, and services. “PingAn has truly been a pioneer in digitizing its entire sales force, at scale,” shared Pallavi.

Pranay Mehrotra, Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG emphasized on the need to use data as a differentiator. Data players are creating value by building digital foundations, developing new technology capabilities, implementing use case driven transformation, and improving overall data governance.

In his opening remarks, Thushara Ranasinghe, MD/CEO of Ceylinco Life Insurance Limited said, “In 2019, the Sri Lankan insurance industry grew by 10.5% and in 2020, it grew by an estimated 16%. Despite the lockdown, insurers were able to witness steep growth, proving that adversity reveals genius”. He stated that the pandemic took everyone by surprise and rendered all business continuity manuals irrelevant. Nevertheless, Ceylinco was able to quickly adapt to the changing situation and recover from the initial shock by installing proper infrastructure in place.

Sanjeev Jha of FairFirst Insurance said, “COVID-19 has taken away our choice to invest in digital initiatives or data optimization. Bionic is the need of the hour. Insurance companies typically are data intensive and cognizant of risks. Organizations that don’t become digitally sensitive would miss the race.”

In line with this chain of thought, Pranay from BCG emphasized the importance of transforming the agency channel. “COVID-19 is expected to accelerate digitization of the agency channel. Omni channel is expected to be a norm in the future. While it hasn’t happened in the last 12 months, a war for talent is imminent. Digitally evolved companies will be better positioned to capture, share, and create value as opposed to their traditional counterparts,” he said.

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Business

Financial literacy central to country’s development – CBSL Governor

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe: ‘Financial literacy vital’.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Sri Lanka’s financial literacy rate is approximately 58 percent. Such literacy is absolutely necessary for the inclusion of people in the country’s financial system which in turn is central to overall economic development, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.

‘One needs to have knowledge and skills of a financial nature to figure in financial inclusiveness. While 86 percent of Sri Lanka’s population has access to the country’s financial system, 82 percent of the public has at least a savings account in the country’s banking system, Dr Weerasinghe said.

The Governor made these comments recently at the inauguration of Financial Literacy Month 2026 at the Central Bank’s Centre for Banking Studies, Rajagiriya.

Dr. Weerasinghe added: ‘Suitable, affordable and quality financial instruments are needed to enhance financial literacy in the country.

‘Financial information has to be accurate, risk-free and accountable, thus creating confidentiality in the financial system, which would enable the sector to reach greater heights’.

Meanwhile CBSL sources said: ‘The Literacy Month opened with the two-day ‘FinLit Expo Colombo’. The expo gives the public the opportunity to engage with institutions, better understand financial services, gain practical insights into managing their finances and learn how to protect themselves from financial fraud and scams.

‘The CBSL is leading the program in collaboration with stakeholder institutions. It forms part of the Financial Literacy Roadmap for Sri Lanka, which is implemented under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), the national framework for widening access to and use of formal financial services.

‘The Colombo event will be followed by six regional ‘FinLit Expos’ aimed at direct engagement with local communities. Partner institutions will also run awareness activities. Together, the events are intended to provide financial education to communities and encourage people to apply financial knowledge in everyday life.

‘A public awareness campaign on television, radio, newspapers and social media will extend the program’s reach. The program also includes digital financial literacy activities and the promotion of QR codes and other online payment methods.

‘The public and stakeholder institutions are encouraged to take part in the month’s activities under the theme, “Towards a Financially Literate Sri Lanka”.

Business

HUTCH strikes five awards as the only telco honoured at SLIM DIGIS 2.6

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

HUTCH Sri Lanka strengthened its position as a leader in digital engagement by securing five accolades at SLIM Digis 2.6, emerging as one of the most recognized brands at this year’s digital excellence awards. The achievement was further highlighted by HUTCH being the only telecom operator to be recognized at the event.

Organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), SLIM Digis is Sri Lanka’s premier platform celebrating excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements in the digital marketing industry. The recognition highlights HUTCH’s growing strength in digital-first, agile, and creative marketing, and its ability to respond to everyday moments, engage audiences, and deliver impactful digital campaigns.

The Gold Award for Best Use of Agile and Moment Marketing, a Silver for Best Use of Digital in a Marketing Campaign, and a Bronze for Best Performance Marketing were all awarded for “Keeping Sri Lanka Connected Through Ditwah,” HUTCH’s response to the cyclone that struck Sri Lanka in November 2025, recognised for the speed and relevance with which HUTCH kept customers better connected and informed.

HUTCH Roaming also earned two further Bronze awards for Best Use of Digital in a Marketing Campaign and Best Use of Creative Content. Bringing together AI-led storytelling, the campaign was designed around distinct customer clusters, each characterized by unique travel behaviours, needs, and perceptions, delivering relevant content for different audiences within a single overarching campaign.

“These wins are a strong reflection of how HUTCH approaches marketing today, staying close to the moments that matter to our customers and responding with speed, relevance, and creativity. Being the only telco recognised at SLIM DIGIS 2.6, and across five categories, is proof that agility and thoughtful storytelling can go hand in hand. This recognition reflects the collective efforts with our strategic partners, whose collaboration, expertise, and shared commitment brought great campaigns to life,” said Hamdhy Hassen, Chief Marketing Officer, HUTCH Sri Lanka.

Business

Fairway Colombo named Official Accommodation Partner of Manhunt International 2026

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

(L-R): Gamunu Cooray, Ms. Tharushi Kulathunga, Avinga Wanigasekara, Arjuna Senanayake, and Jagath De Almeda at the signing ceremony held at Fairway Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Smart Luxury Business Hotel to Host Delegates and Contestants from Over 40 Countries as the Island Nation Hosts Its First-Ever Global Pageant of This Scale

Fairway Colombo, a subsidiary of Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, has been appointed as the Official Accommodation Partner for Manhunt International 2026, one of the world’s most prestigious male pageants, scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka.

The event marks a historic milestone for Sri Lanka, as the country prepares to host a global pageant of this scale for the very first time. More than 40 contestants representing countries from across the world will arrive in Colombo, bringing together diverse cultures, international media attention, and a global audience — further strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as a premier destination for tourism, culture, and hospitality.

As the official accommodation partner, Fairway Colombo will welcome and host international delegates and contestants throughout their stay in Colombo, delivering the exceptional hospitality experience and personalized service that the hotel is recognized for.

A Landmark Partnership for Sri Lankan Tourism

“We are truly honored to be selected as the Official Accommodation Partner for Manhunt International 2026. This partnership is a proud moment not only for Fairway Colombo but also for Sri Lanka as a whole. Hosting an event of this global stature provides us with an opportunity to showcase our commitment to smart luxury, innovation, and authentic Sri Lankan hospitality to an international audience. We look forward to creating a memorable and seamless experience for all delegates and guests,” said Avinga Wanigasekara, General Manager of Fairway Colombo.

Strategically located in the heart of Colombo’s historic Fort district, Fairway Colombo is recognized as a Smart Luxury Business Hotel, combining modern comfort, advanced technology, and exceptional service. As part of Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, the property represents the group’s vision of delivering innovative, world-class experiences across the hospitality and leisure sectors.