Lasitha Wimalaratne, Sithumina Jayasundara appointed as Executive Directors

A key leadership announcement was made as Lasitha Wimalaratne has been appointed as an Executive Director of HNB Assurance PLC, while Sithumina Jayasundara has been appointed as an Executive Director of HNB General Insurance Limited.

Both Wimalaratne and Jayasundara presently serve as Chief Executive Officers of HNB Assurance PLC and HNB General Insurance Limited, respectively.

HNB Assurance and HNB General Insurance Chairman Stuart Chapman stated, “I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to both Lasitha and Sithumina on their appointment to the respective boards. Their leadership and contributions to both companies have been instrumental in driving growth and stability across the businesses and I am confident that their appointment will further strengthen our strategic direction and enhance shareholder value.”

Wimalaratne has overall over 27 years of career experience with 24 years in the field of life insurance inclusive of seven years of multinational experience at Aviva and AIA groups and three years of retail sales and marketing exposure in London.

Prior to joining HNB Assurance he functioned as General Manager Life Operations and Specified Officer at Softlogic Life Insurance. He joined HNB Assurance in 2019 and served in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer and Principal Officer prior to being appointed as Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance. 

Wimalaratne holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Wales, UK and a B. A. (Hons) Degree in Business Studies from the University of Sunderland, UK. He is a Chartered Insurer and a Fellow Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII). 

Wimalaratne is also a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.  He functions as the President of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka and served as President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute for the period of 2019-2021. Further, he was Founder Secretary General of the Chartered Insurance Professionals and served as a Council Member until March 2021. 

Jayasundara has over 27 years of experience in the Sri Lankan insurance landscape. His journey began with leadership roles in non-life insurance business at prestigious companies like Asian Alliance, MBSL, Janashakthi and Eagle Insurance. He further broadened his expertise through international training programmes and conferences, specialising in reinsurance. 

In 2014, Jayasundara joined HNB General Insurance Limited, quickly rising through the ranks. He was appointed to the Group Executive Committee in 2015 and subsequently took on the responsibilities of Chief Technical Officer, Specified Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Principal Officer. 

Beyond his corporate achievements, Jayasundara actively contributes to the industry’s development. He was Past President of the Sri Lanka Insurance Institute and is a founding Council Member of the Association of Chartered Insurance Professionals in Sri Lanka. He also serves on the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka. 

Jayasundara holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK and is the Sri Lanka award winner of the Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII - UK) and is a Chartered Insurer. Additionally, he holds the Senior Associateship of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He also currently serves as a member of the Expert Advisory Committee for the InsurInnovator Connect Global Series Events – Asia 2025.