Union Assurance, Sri Lanka’s premier Life Insurer, is proud to announce the launch of its flagship CSR programme, Suwamaga, aimed at enriching community well-being. Driven by its purpose of protecting lives and enriching the well-being of all, the Company will provide nationwide support under Suwamaga, a programme focused on reducing diabetes incidence in Sri Lanka. This comprehensive programme is built on four strategic pillars: raising awareness about diabetes, promoting healthy lifestyles, supporting early detection and risk management, and fostering community engagement.
The urgency of Suwamaga stems from the alarming rise in the country’s diabetes and pre-diabetes over the past three decades. According to the International Diabetes Federation, Sri Lanka reported a diabetes prevalence rate of 9.8% among adults in 2021, placing the nation at a heightened risk within the South Asian region. This issue affects a significant portion of the population, with increasing cases among younger individuals due to modern sedentary lifestyles, inadequate exercise, and rising stress levels. The consequences are severe, including rising morbidity rates and complications such as cardiovascular diseases, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations.
In response to this critical national issue, Union Assurance has stepped forward as a proactive corporate citizen with Suwamaga. As its first instalment, the Company conducted a series of diabetes screenings at the MedEx Expo 2024 held at the Kandy City Center. Partnering with medical laboratory technologists from the National Hospital, Kandy, the screenings successfully examined over 1,000 individuals. Union Assurance also provided education on managing diabetes to the participants, thereby enabling significant steps towards enriching their health and well-being.
Mahen Gunarathna, Chief Marketing Officer at Union Assurance, stated, “Union Assurance is deeply committed to enriching the well-being of all Sri Lankans through our purpose-driven initiatives and we take great pride in our flagship CSR programme, Suwamaga. Diabetes is often termed a ‘silent killer,’ and it is imperative that we engage in meaningful dialogue and decisive actions to address this pressing national issue. Our commitment through Suwamage is to provide nationwide support and drive change at the grassroots level, where it is most impactful. By raising awareness, promoting healthy lifestyles, and supporting early detection, we aim to empower individuals and communities to take control of their health. We believe that through collective effort and proactive intervention, we can make a significant contribution towards combating diabetes and improving the overall health of our nation.”
Union Assurance is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC, the largest conglomerate listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, operating with over 70 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. The Company has completed over three decades of success with a Market Capitalisation of Rs. 28.6 Bn, and a Life Fund of Rs. 71.6 Bn as of end June 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 3800-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.
