Union Assurance, Sri Lanka’s longest-standing private Life Insurer, has once again been recognised for its commitment to cultivating outstanding leadership and a workplace culture where people are empowered to thrive in their respective roles. Held at Cinnamon Grand, the Great Managers Awards 2024 ceremony celebrated the Company for its sustained investment in people and its consistent focus on driving meaningful progress through authentic leadership.
The Great Managers Awards programme, powered by CLA Coaching & Consulting Inc. sets an industry benchmark in measuring the effectiveness of managerial leadership by evaluating performance across five core assessment parameters: driving business growth, aligning individual contribution with organisational goals, coaching for higher performance, building effective teams and upholding the integrity of leadership.
Union Assurance was honoured for the fourth consecutive year as a ‘Company with Great Managers’, acknowledging its forward-thinking people strategy that recognises talent, rewards excellence and creates room for both personal and professional growth. In an environment built on meritocracy and support backed by tailored development tools and leadership opportunities, employees are encouraged to embrace their unique journeys of progress.
This year, seven exceptional individuals were recognised for their leadership impact. Charitha Boteju, Assistant Vice President – Operations (Life Operations), bagged the award for ‘Great Manager for Leadership Integrality and Holistic Approach’ while Anura Hettikanda, Assistant Vice President – Underwriting was recognized as a Great Manager for Building Team Effectiveness and Collaboration. Both Kokilan Kanapathipillai, Deputy General Manager – Agency Distribution and Nimalaraj Thangathurai, Senior Regional Manager – Agency Distribution, won the awards for ‘Driving Results and Execution Excellence’. Kasun Rathnayaka, Senior Manager – Data Engineering and Analytics, was recognised as the ‘Great Manager for Building Team Effectiveness and Collaboration’ and Eshan De Silva, Senior Manager – Digital Applications, was recognised as the ‘Millennial Manager’. In addition, Venuri Udawatta, Manager – Branding and Communications, won the award for ‘Great Manager for Aligning with Organisational Vision’.
Senath Jayatilake, the Chief Executive Officer at Union Assurance, stated,
“At Union Assurance, leadership is not confined to titles; it is a culture embedded at every level of the organization. Through a strong foundation of support, guidance, and growth opportunities, the Company empowers its’ managers to thrive—both personally and professionally. This recognition reflects the strength of our people and our unwavering belief that empowered individuals drive change towards the betterment of a nation. We congratulate our great managers and wish them luck in all their endeavours”.
Nisansala Paranayapa, the Chief People Officer at Union Assurance, also reflected on the awards, stating, “This recognition as a ‘Company with Great Managers’ for the fourth-year running is a proud moment for all of us at Union Assurance. It reflects our deep-rooted belief that leadership is not just about managing teams—it’s about inspiring people, fostering collaboration, and driving meaningful impact. Our managers are empowered to lead with empathy, purpose, and accountability, and this award is a testament to their dedication. We will continue to invest in leadership development and create an environment where every individual has the opportunity to grow, contribute, and lead with confidence.”
Union Assurance is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), the largest conglomerate listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, operating with over 80 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. The Company has completed over three decades of success with a Market Capitalisation of Rs. 36.5 Bn and a Life Fund of Rs. 77.5 Bn as at end December 2024. Set to protect lives and enrich the well-being of all Sri Lankans, Union Assurance offers Life Insurance solutions that cover the health, investment, protection, retirement and education needs of Sri Lankans. With an island-wide branch network and a workforce that is over 4300 strong, 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.
