Ceylinco Life to extend Green Branch operations to Ambalantota

Life insurance market leader Ceylinco Life is to extend its Green operations model to Sri Lanka’s deep south via a new purpose-built eco-friendly branch building in Ambalantota in the Hambantota District.

Ceylinco Life Chairman Mr R. Renganathan, Managing Director/CEO Mr Thushara Ranasinghe, directors and senior management recently participated in a foundation stone laying ceremony for this newest branch on company-owned land, at Ward No. 02, Tangalle Road, Ambalantota.

The new building will use the ecofriendly precast concrete technology developed by the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD), and conform to the exacting environment-related specifications adopted for all new Ceylinco Life branches on company-owned land.

As a further validation of its conformity with environmental parameters, the building has been registered under the National Green Reporting System implemented by the Ministry of Environment. The National Green Reporting System is a collaborative effort to measure, disclose and be accountable for the environmental, social and economic performance of Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and services sector.

The two-storey, 3,250 sq. ft building will be fully solar-powered with a 20-kW on-grid solar power system and a 5-kW battery backup system instead of a diesel generator. This would result in a zero-electricity bill, the sale of excess solar power to the national grid, and uninterrupted power supply to the building.

The new building will also have its own rainwater harvesting facility and a dedicated, waste-water recycling system that will produce treated water for toilet flushing and gardening. The building is purpose-designed to make optimal use of natural light and natural ventilation and is to be fitted with energy-efficient artificial lighting and air conditioning systems. While the precast construction method minimises the use of timber during the construction, existing trees on the premises would be preserved and new trees would be grown, the company said.

Besides its environmental credentials, the precast concrete technology used in the construction results in a 10% to 15% cost saving, a time saving of 20% and high thermal comfort, while reducing maintenance costs.

Among the branch buildings owned by Ceylinco Life are those in Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Kandy, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Tissamaharama, Negombo, Ratnapura, Kotahena, Mount Lavinia, Wellawatte, Matugama and Nugegoda many of which have already been converted to solar energy. Among the new branch buildings purpose-built to the company’s sustainable energy model are those at Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Wennappuwa, Bandarawela, Ratnapura (New Building), Horana, Panadura, Chilaw, Kadawatha, Jaffna (North Wing), Malabe, Divulapitiya, Negombo (New Building), Nelliady, Piliyandala, Ja-Ela and Minuwangoda.

Ceylinco Life operates the largest network of 256 branches in Sri Lanka’s life insurance industry, giving it a physical presence in 132 cities, towns, and villages in 24 districts.

Adjudged Sri Lanka’s Brand of the Year in 2022 and 2023, Ceylinco Life was also named one of the 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka in 2023 by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and was ranked the ‘Most Valuable Insurance Brand in Sri Lanka’ across both life and general insurance categories in 2023 by Brand Finance.

Ceylinco Life has been the country’s leading life insurer for 20 of the 37 years it has been in existence and provides innovative life insurance solutions which offer protection while de-risking the goals and ambitions of the Company’s policyholders.

Photo caption: Ceylinco Life Directors and senior management with branch staff at the laying of the foundation stone for the new building.