Union Assurance bags top award at ICASL awards
ICASL's Annual Report awards saw Union Assurance being accorded the
overall winner's award this year.
WINNERS: Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Union Assurance Dirk
Pereira, Chief Executive Officer - Union Assurance Marina
Tharmaratnam and Sector Financial Controller John Keells PLC
Suran Wijesinghe with the awards. |
It is the benchmark for performance indicators and compliance in
listed companies in Sri Lanka.
Union Insurance PLC, which comes under the umbrella of John Keells
Holdings PLC and Carsons Cumberbatch PLC recently won the National
Business Excellence Award from the National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and became the first insurance company to win an award at the
NCE Export Awards too.
The annual report which underlined the theme 'Focus - the man who
wins is the man who thinks he can' spelled out the unrelenting focus
that Union Assurance has continued to display in its business practices
since inception.
Deputy CEO/General Manager Finance and Planning Dirk Perera felt that
Union Assurance deserves the award, saying, "It's good to be recognised
among the top corporate reports in Sri Lanka.
"The award is a great tribute to the excellent teamwork and
dedication of our people at all levels as well as to our customers and
shareholders who have placed their trust and confidence in us."
He explained the reasons that Union Assurance had an edge over other
annual reports stating that a concerted effort was put into the
production of the report this year.
"While we improved our financial statements, we also added key value
drivers of the business, associated risks, corporate governance
practices and commitment to all stakeholder groups in a transparent
accountable milieu."
In addition, Union Assurance was also placed first in the insurance
and management commentary categories and won fourth place for corporate
governance disclosures.
Union Assurance has been a regular winner at past ICASL Annual Report
awards although this is the first year that the company emerged as an
overall winner displacing regular contenders for that primary spot.
Last year and in 2004, Union Assurance was placed first in the
insurance category, while the company also won third place for corporate
governance disclosures. Union Assurance has also been a winner at the
South Asian Federation of Accountants annual awards being accorded
winning position in both 2004 and 2005 in the non-banking financial
services category.
The company also became the first insurance company to win an NCE
Export Award this year.
The ICASL Annual Report Awards work on the objectives of promoting
better and effective communication to stakeholders especially in
financial and business information and compliance with legislative
requirements and generally accepted accounting practices.
The overall test applied by the judges is, "What is reasonable to
expect from the organisation's annual report so that the stakeholder can
make informed decisions?"
Union Assurance is known for its innovative creativity in a highly
competitive insurance environment in the country continued its
commitment towards stakeholders by launching and enhancing products
which included the new 'Union Call & Go' and Union Advantage Life
Insurance, expanding penetration through an expansive branch network and
initiating strategic partnerships with banking partners to expand on
Union Pay Easy Scheme. |