Janashakthi Insurance rewards top performers

• Top achievers walk away with a spate of overseas tours and fabulous cash prizes

Janashakthi Insurance, a leading insurer in Sri Lanka, rewarded more than 200 top sales performers in a glittering and spectacular Awards Ceremony with overseas tours to USA, UK, China, Dubai, Bangkok and India, overseas training, air tickets, cash prizes, trophies and certificates at the Janashakthi Annual Awards for Excellence 2012.

This gala evening held recently at Waters’ Edge with an audience of nearly 1,200, had an ‘Avatar’ inspired theme drawing from the concept of ideal self projection, set in an attempt to inspire the insurance giant’s sales force to choose success as a main character trait and become continuous achievers.

The evening’s proceedings were coloured by inspirational extracts from world renown exemplary figures such as motivational speaker Les Brown who as a child was perceived to have had learning disabilities but today has become a powerful motivational speaker and coach overcoming the impossible and Nadia Comaneci, the first female gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 at the Olympics, exemplifying continuous achievement.

The Annual Awards for Excellence is the most looked forward and prestigious event of the company’s annual calendar which recognises excellence amongst the high flyers from the 2,500 strong sales force. The event not only recognises sales accomplishments but also individual brilliance and team achievements in other areas such as academic and sports. Held for the 18th consecutive year the awards were presented under 23 categories.

M. S. Sampan bagged the most prestigious award of the evening, presented to the best performer of the year by the company Chairman, W.T. Ellawala, and walked away to a majestic chorus of the Avatar maidens.

The grand ceremony was graced by the distinguished patronage of Chief Guest Janashakthi Insurance Chairman W.T. Ellawala as well as other company Directors including Deputy Chairman, C.T.A. Schaffter, Managing Director Prakash Schaffter, Directors L.C.R de C Wijetunge, Manjula Mathews, Ramesh Schaffter, Eardley Perera and Anushya Coomaraswamy.  

The Best Life Salesperson Award was won by K.G.A. Gamage of the Balangoda branch, whilst more than 75 Life sales professionals were recognised for their exceptional performance in Life insurance sales. The Best Client Builder Award which recognises a Life sales professional’s best client service standards was won by M. Tangiah of the Mahaweva Area Development Office.

U.S.N. Fernando from the Negombo branch won the Best Overall Life Team Award. The Best Life Business Promotion Assistant award was won by H.M.D. Herath from Nuwaraeliya branch, whilst O. S. Tharanga from the Avissawella branch was the best Life Business Promotion Officer. W. G. Chandanalal, from the Anuradhapura branch was adjudged the Best Life Business Promotion Executive. The Best Portfolio Manager in Life Insurance award went to H.P.T.M Weerasinghe from Avissawella branch.

In General insurance category, the award for the Best General Business Promotion Sales Supervisor in Diamond category was won by P.D.N. Chandrarathne of Maharagama ADO office. In the Best General Business Promotion Assistant awards, D.S. Nilusha of Homagama ADO Office and K.D.S Udesh from Colombo City secured the awards in Gold & Diamond categories respectively. S. Karnan from Pettah branch and K.H.T. Ariyawansha from Colombo Metro emerged winners in the Best Business Promotion Officer under Gold & Diamond categories respectively.

H.C. Sanjeewa from Kalutara bagged the award for Best Snr. Business Promotion Executive under the Gold category while the award under the Diamond category went to W.C. D. Wijerathna from Colombo City. C.S. Kumarapeliyage from Kalubowila was awarded the Best Business Promotion Manager under the Gold category while K.G.W.S. Ranasinghe from Kandy secured the Diamond category award.

General insurance Star Awards were presented to R.P.W Miyuru and S.A.K.R.S Thilanka both from Colombo Metro. Award under the Gold Category for Sales Managers/Asst. Portfolio Managers in General insurance went to R.S. Perera from Kalutara while the Diamond category award was won by M.S. Sampan from Colombo Metro. The Best Regional Sales Manager Award in General insurance was won by H. M. D. S. Randika from the Kalutara Region whilst the award in the Life insurance category was won by M. K. P. K. Perera from the Negombo region

Chairman Ellawala speaking on the occasion paid a glowing tribute to the high flyers for their significant contribution towards strong performance of the company in 2011. Whilst re-iterating the strength, stability and the strong balance sheet of the company, he stressed the commitment of all towards the realisation of Janashakthi’s vision to be the No. 1 insurer in Sri Lanka.

Managing Director Prakash Schaffter said that Janashakthi would continue to invest substantially towards the development of the company’s human capital. He stated that Janashakthi spent approximately Rs. 50 m on training and development of its staff, a key strategic priority of the company to attract and retain the best talent in the insurance industry.

Shehara De Silva, General Manager – Sales & Marketing said that the theme of transformation was all about mindset change. She quoted from Napoleon, that greatness took perseverance and reinforced the idea that “nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. Success is a mind game and if you want anything in life, go out and get it”.

Janashakthi posted a Gross Written Premium of Rs. 7.1 b with a 16% growth for the year ending 31 December 2011, the best ever performance recorded in many years. With a healthy net profit after tax of Rs. 636 m, Janashakthi continues to be one of the most profitable insurance companies quoted in the Colombo Stock Exchange.