Insurance industry celebrates 2nd National Insurance Day
On September 1, the insurance industry of Sri Lanka gathered together to celebrate the National Insurance Day.
In a bid to increase the impact of their message, the Marketing and Sales Forum of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka organised a series of activation events, which were held at seven specific locations across the island, thus, ensuring that as many people as possible in every corner of Sri Lanka were made aware of the value of insurance.
The activations took place in Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura and Matara, hosted by SLIC, HNB Assurance, Union Assurance, Arpico Insurance PLC, AIA Insurance and Fairfirst Insurance, Allianz Insurance and Ceylinco Insurance, respectively.
Hundreds of insurance advisors from every company gathered together at these locations to celebrate the National Insurance Day as one industry united by a common cause.
The declaration of September 1 as the National Insurance Day, which took place last year, was a significant milestone for the industry. The primary purpose of the National Insurance Day is to raise awareness among the Sri Lankan public about the vitality of insurance and to encourage more people to obtain basic protection to ensure the safety and security of their loved ones.
The initiative also serves a means of reducing the responsibility placed on the government to oversee the well-being of those who fall victim to natural catastrophes and to prove to the public that the government has their best interests at heart. This declaration will also help increase insurance sector’s contribution to the GDP of the country.
National Insurance Day 2018 saw a high level of engagement amongst the insurance industry and the public thanks to the initiative of the IASL and MSF. Speaking at one of the activation events Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka Director Investigations Sudeera Senaratne reminded the gathering of how just last year the government declared September 1 as the National Insurance Day thanks to the collaboration of the IASL and the IRCSL.
Senaratne theorized this to be due to the value brought to the economy by the insurance industry. He also advised the gathered insurance advisors to think long term rather than short term. “Raising and building awareness is highly significant to the long-term development plan of Sri Lanka’s insurance industry.”
Insurance Association of Sri Lanka President Deepthi Lokuarachchi emphasized on the primary duty of the members of the insurance industry, which is to provide protection for all lives and assets.
“The current increase in life expectancy shows us that people are becoming more health conscious. A number of companies have recognized new opportunities in the current status of customer requirements and have accordingly introduced solutions to meet these needs. Today we have an opportunity to reach out to the public and raise awareness about our trade. This is our chance to strengthen the vocation of insurance.”
What is now becoming the traditional oath of the industry was sworn at the conclusion of every event and group by group the insurance advisors in their colourful T-shirts representing their respective companies scattered across the towns to fulfil their mission.