Union Assurance, Sri Lanka’s longest-standing private life insurer, was honoured as a ‘Company with Great Managers’ for fifth consecutive year at the CLA Great Managers Awards 2025, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. Presented annually by the Colombo Leadership Academy & CLA Coaching Inc, the award affirms that Union Assurance’s approach to leadership excellence is not episodic, but deeply embedded across the Company.
The CLA Great Managers Awards programme, powered by Colombo Leadership Academy & CLA Coaching Inc. in strategic partnership with People Business, The Culture Factor Group – Hofstede & Onehub, is regarded as the international benchmark for assessing managerial and leadership effectiveness in Sri Lanka. Using the scientifically grounded D-ACTI 5X meta-analysis framework, the programme evaluates managers across five leadership pillars: Driving Results & Execution Excellence, Aligning Organizational Vision, Coaching & Developing Others for Growth, Building Team Effectiveness & Collaboration & Leadership Integrality & Holistic Approach.
Reflecting the depth and diversity of managerial capability within the organisation, five Union Assurance leaders were individually recognised across distinct award categories this year. Sashika Perera, Senior Manager – Statutory Reporting & Taxation, and Ishanthi Umedha, Head of Governance & Valuation, were recognised for ‘Demonstration of Well-Rounded Performance and Managerial Effectiveness. Holistic Knowledge of the Organisational Vision, Strategy, Operations, Processes, and Culture as a Millennial Manager.’ Govindasamy Mathiruban, Senior Zonal Head – Agency Distribution, and Ashen Irange, Channel Head – Bancassurance, were recognised for ‘Driving Results and Execution Excellence’, while Thulani Jayawickrama, Head of Finance Planning & Analysis, was acknowledged for her ‘Leadership Integrality and Holistic Approach.’ Collectively, these recognitions underscore the strength of Union Assurance’s leadership bench across both core business and support functions.
Celebrating the recognition, the Chief People Officer at Union Assurance, Nisansala Paranayapa remarked, “Five consecutive years of being recognised as a Company with Great Managers is not the result of individual brilliance alone, but a reflection of a leadership culture that is deeply ingrained and intentionally sustained. At Union Assurance, leadership is viewed as a capability that must be continuously cultivated and strengthened, ensuring alignment not only with business outcomes but with a shared purpose of protecting what matters most. It reflects our commitment to building an institution that will endure for our people, our customers, and the country we serve.”
“This recognition belongs to the remarkable individuals who show up for their people and for this Company, day after day. I extend my congratulations to our great managers whose consistent commitment and integrity continue to shape the organisation and its future,” she further added.
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 nearly four decades of success with a Market Capitalisation of Rs. 45.6 Bn and a Life Fund of Rs. 92.8 Bn as of end December 2025. 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 3000-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.
Union Assurance PLC is licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL).
