Dr. Jayantha Wickremeratne, true son of the nation dedicated to public service now at helm of SANASA Life Insurance

Dr. Jayantha Wickramaratne receiving the appointment letter from Sanasa Founder Chairman Dr. Kiriwandeniya

A leading personality who commands recognition for his exemplary services as a senior official in the public service who held the senior most position in the Police as 31st Inspector General of Police and was largely instrumental in bringing to an end the 30 years of ruthless war. 

Dr. Jayantha Wickramaratne is at present the Chairman of SANASA Life Insurance Company (PLC). He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Kalaniya University in appreciation of his qualities of leadership, magnetic personality and valour demonstrated by him. He is pleased to have the opportunity to gain experience in the business sector which is real distinct from his professional field.

Q: You have been known to your fellow countrymen as a courageous leader who was chiefly responsible, as the Police Chief for bringing peace to the country. Could you give us a brief flash back of your career in the defence establishment?

 Well, after I graduated from the Sri Jayawardenapura University in Public Administration (Hons) in 1973 I joined the Police Department as an ASP in the following year. After a long service of 35 years in several senior positions I was promoted as 31st Inspector General of Police. I have been fortunate to give my leadership as IGP to end the ruthless war and to bring peace to the country. 

Q: Even after retirement from the Police department, would you say the country needed your services?

 Well, I was pleased to have that opportunity. Immediately after my retirement from the Police Department in 2009, I was appointed as Additional Secretary to the ministry of Defence and I considered it a boon to have the opportunity to use my experience in the field of National Security. I held that post from 2009 to 2011. In 2011 I was appointed a Commissioner in the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and I held that post till 2015.

Q: With a long experience in the public sector you have taken to the business sector which is a rather different field. Would you categorise it to be a novel experience?

 In fact it is a novel experience. I joined the SANASA Life Insurance Company as a director in 2017 on the invitation of founder and chairman of the SANASA group of companies Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya. My thanks are due to Vishavaprasadinee Dr. Kiriwandeniya and the staff of the SANASA group for providing me the opportunity to gain enormous experience in the business field. Particularly, it paved the way for me to conduct an extensive study of the Insurance sector. I am grateful to other members of the Board of Directors and the employees as well who cooperated with me from 2017 to 2023 and enabled me to gain experience in the field. 

Q: You seem to have enjoyed your time as a director of the Sanasa Life Insurance Company. Is there anything that particularly stood out to you during your tenure? 

 Well, as a public servant very seldom had I had the opportunity to focus attention on the Insurance sector. However, after I joined SANASA group I have been able to acquire a thorough knowledge in the field. What I consider as most important is that I could carry out a study how SANASA achieved into a bank comprising a loan scheme with a clientele represented by the low income group in the rural sector and organised under their leadership. 

Q: Could you tell us abit about the concept of SANASA bank and its origin?

 SANASA, a cooperative loan scheme started 32 years ago in Kegalle according to a concept of the then People’s Bank Chairman Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya was soon expanded to other areas of the country without depending on state or foreign funds. It was due to the efficient management. I believe, that if not for the efforts of Dr. Kiriwandeniya, Sri Lanka would not have had this progressive institution. Dr. kiriwandeniya had formed the all Lanka Mutual Assistance Organisation (ALMAO) to help the poor people and it had gained much popularity. A survey carried out by an NGO in the area “Forum for development” revealed that all Lanka Mutual Assistance Organisation (ALMAO) with a membership of 180 had joined (ALMAO) and spread all over the country. It recommended the issue of a permit for the organisation to function as a small scale Insurance Company. SANASA that commenced business as a life insurance organisation in 2003 has been functioning as a general insurance company since 2005. Sri Lanka Insurance Regulatory Commission in 2019 granted approval to function as a two pronged company, one as SANASA Life Insurance Company and other as a general insurance company. At present about 100 branches of SANASA Life Insurance Company have been established all over the country and 8,500 SANASA societies in the whole Island.

Q: Share your accomplishments with us

 SANASA Life Insurance Company is proud of being able to mention about a host of such achievements, locally and internationally.   In 2018 Indian Chamber of Commerce awarded the CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE to SANASA Life Insurance Company.

In 2021 SANASA Life Insurance company received an award at the Global Banking and Monetary Management Award Festival for the FASTEST GROWING INSURANCE COMPANY IN SRI LANKA. SANASA also received the same award in 2022.

SANASA Life Insurance Company CEO received the award for the BEST CEO at the CEO forum in Sri Lanka.

In 2022 the SASASA Life Insurance Company received the “CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE” at the award ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Chartered Accountants Institute. SANASA also received a SILVER AWARD at the same ceremony.

In 2023 the SANASA Life Insurance Company received the “NATIONAL BUSINESS EXECELLENCE” Award at the award ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka National Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.

On July 13, 2023, SANASA Life Insurance received the award for “SUSTAINBLE Brand of the Year 2023”, for EXCELLECE IN BRANDING AND MARKETING from Business Excellence, committee in India. 

It is evident from these awards is the SANASA Life Insurance Company commands recognition locally and internationally.

Another Outstanding achievement in that SANASA life Insurance Company has been listed as a Member of The Colombo Stock Exchange In 2021.

SANASA Life Insurance Company that stood as 14th among the Life Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka in 2019 has been achieved to the position of the eight due to excellent dedicated services of a committed staff.

Q: The customer is the primary focus of any business. How have the company’s activities benefitted customers in various communities?

 SANASA organisation and its affiliates have demonstrated their leadership qualities by implementing a series of social welfare projects for community development, and religious and cultural coexistence. Especially the insurance schemes for medium and low income groups have been commended by most Sri Lankans. For example under “DIVIJAYA INSUARANCE SCHEME” 36 diseases have been identified to provide enhanced dividends to the customers of the Life Insurance Scheme. Another social welfare programme was the “PINSARU WANDANA” Insurance Scheme for novice monks implemented in 2023.

Q: What do you consider to be the main elements that have contributed to the company’s success? 

 One is that we have ensured the participation of individuals skilled in the field, provided them strategic training and guaranteed them ample welfare facilities to build an efficient team.

We adhere to our strategies, empower the Risk management, ensure efficient internal administration, and monitor the functioning and upholds the values of the SANASA Concept. The SANASA society network has implemented several social welfare programmes including the environmental projects to minimise carbon dioxide and methane in air. In another project SANASA University in Kegalle, helped the training programmes to improve the standard of our teams and to empower them in Insurance related knowledge and subjects.

We organised an annual pilgrimage to Anuradhapura with the participation of all members of our staffs and the members of socialites. It is of significance that this pilgrimage to offer lotus flowers has been organised for the last 22 years continuously to wish our late members, retired personnel and helpless members.

Q: Before we conclude, do you have any message to give to the staff and customers of the SANASA Group of Companies and in particular those of the SANASA Life Insurance Company.

 Well, I must express my sincere appreciation to SANASA leader Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya who with dedication and determination has managed the organisation for the last 32 years from its very inception. He deserves the respect of the entire group of companies and their affiliates. 

The members of the Board of Directors who held their posts at times and the staffs were responsible for the smooth functioning and the progress of the organisation. I fail in my duty if I forget the employees living in retirement, dead or invalid. I pay a tribute to them and we organise religious observances at Ruwanwalisaya for the last 22 years in memory of those dead and to bless others who are living in retirement with health and long life. 

The progress of SANASA organization is due to the dedicated service of the employees of all categories who continued immensely to maintain the good will of the company. I am hopeful that they would continue to render their services with unstinted courage to meet the objects of the organization. It is my vehement expectation to see the SANASA network remains a model business establishment in the country.