HNB Assurance sponsors Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Team for series of matches

From left: HNBA Chief Operating Officer Prasantha Fernando; HNBA and its fully-owned subsidiary HNBGI Managing Director/CEO Deepthi Lokuarachchi; HNBA Head of Marketing Dinesh Yogaratnam, HNBGI Chief Technical Officer Sithumina Jayasundara and HNBA Deputy Chief Operating Officer Lasitha Wimalaratne with the Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Team

HNB Assurance Plc (HNBA) sponsored the Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Team for the third time, as they once again prepare for competition, playing against India in the Deaf Cricket Series. 

In 2018, the Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Team claimed victory by becoming the champs of the Inaugural Deaf Cricket T20 World Cup in India, while also emerging as the runners-up at the second Asia Deaf Cricket Cup tournament which was held in 2012. 

Manned by well-trained individuals from various parts of the country and journeying through many victories, the Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Team was backed by HNBA to uplift and highlight the talents of the disabled as part of the company’s CSR initiatives.

Sharing his views, Deepthi Lokuarachchi, Managing Director and CEO of HNBA and its fully-owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Ltd. (HNBGI), stated: “We are indeed pleased to support the endeavors of such a strong-minded team, working tirelessly to make our country proud. Each one of these individuals has demonstrated exemplary talent, setting a unique example for society. As a business built on providing protection and taking care of the community and its people, we firmly believe in creating equal opportunities and strengthening one’s life journey to reach greater heights. Over the years, the team has performed extremely well, winning both national and international tournaments and we wish them strength and courage for the upcoming series and more.” HNBA Head of Marketing Dinesh Yogaratnam added: “Our social stewarship activities focus on areas such as health and wellbeing, the provision of clean drinking water, education, arts and culture, environment and sport. In this regard, the company has been partnering the Deaf Cricket Association and this is the third year of this partnership. Through this, the company endeavors to uplift sport and in this case, the sports of those who are disabled. It is indeed heartening to see the energy and vigour of this special group of young lads, who were able to bring home the T20 Deaf Cricket World Cup and we wish them every success in this tournament as well.” 

Speaking about the partnership, Sri Lanka Deaf Cricket Association National Organiser Indrani Ariyaratne stated: “Over the three years that the team has been sponsored by HNBA, the company has stood as a pillar of strength which has guided the team to become champions in the World Cup. On behalf of the team, I take this moment to place my heart-filled gratitude in the company for their noble support, and we wish for their continued partnership with us for the upcoming world tournaments in 2020.” 

HNBA is one of the fastest growing insurance companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 62 branches. HNBA is a life insurance company with a rating of A (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka for ‘National Insurer Financial Strength Rating’. Following the introduction of the segregation rules by the insurance regulator, HNB General Insurance Ltd. (HNBGI) was created and commenced its operations in January 2015. HNBGI continues to specialise in motor, non-motor and Takaful insurance solutions and is a fully-owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance Plc. HNBA is rated within the Top 100 brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and HNB Assurance has won international awards for brand excellence, digital marketing and HR Excellence and won many awards for its annual reports at award ceremonies organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).