IASL’s Human Resources arm conducts insurance awareness and career guidance workshop

The Human Resources Subcommittee (HRSC) of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) continued their insurance awareness and career guidance workshops at the Sabaragamuwa University. The program targets undergraduates and provides them with valuable insights of the local insurance industry and employment opportunities within it. The program also gives valuable tips on career development to the undergraduates. The workshop is part of an ongoing industry initiative to provide undergraduates with the necessary tools to develop their careers in the insurance industry.

The aim of the workshop conducted at Sabaragamuwa University was to help undergraduates enhance their soft skills and provide them with an insight into the rapidly expanding insurance sector in Sri Lanka. Undergraduates were also able to further their understanding of what is expected of them in entry-level insurance jobs, and they received the latest updates on trends and developments in the industry. The programme also highlighted potential internship and training opportunities within the industry. A total of 200 undergraduates including 90 students specializing in the fields of banking and insurance, attended the event which was presided over by Chief Guest Professor Udawatta, Vice Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University.

The programme was facilitated by senior industry specialists in the country, including Reyez Jeffrey, CEO of ATL Life; Suranjith Godagama, AGM Training & Development, Union Assurance, Sumendra Jayaram, Senior Manager – Sales Training & Development, AIA Insurance, Rohan Jayasinghe, GM HR, Union Assurance and Rohan Wijesinghe, AGM HR, Janashakthi Insurance. Uresh Jayasekera, Head of HR, People’s Leasing Group, Pradeep Uluwaduge – Head of HR, LOLC Group and Thilan Perera, Head of HR, HNB Assurance also conducted training sessions.

The topics covered included; a local and global perspective of the insurance industry, how to prepare a professional CV and what it takes to be successful at interviews. Sessions were also conducted on the importance of personal branding and grooming. To enhance the productivity of the workshop, a panel discussion and Q&A session was also held with the participation of industry professionals and opinion leaders.

This initiative is a collaboration between the IASL and leading insurance companies and to date it has impacted 500 undergraduate students and 700 GCE A/L students. The workshops have been conducted at Sabaragamuwa University, Wayamba University, Kelaniya University and at 20 local schools in the Balangoda zone, the Kalmunai zone and the Kandy zone.

The IASL was set up in 1989 to represent the country’s insurance sector. Its Executive Committee is made up of CEOs from all insurance companies and meets on a regular basis to discuss issues pertaining to the industry, as well as to foster ethical standards and sound business practices within the sector. The HR Subcommittee of the IASL brings together the heads of the Human Resources Departments of the companies represented within the organization, with the main objective of collectively working towards the development of the country’s insurance industry. In this effort, the HR Subcommittee has been continuously engaged in conducting workshops and awareness programmes, designed to provide the younger generation of Sri Lanka with the knowledge and preparation required to start a fulfilling career in the insurance industry.