The top performers among life insurance leader Ceylinco Life’s 5000 strong sales team island-wide were honoured recently for magnificent performances that contributed to the company’s growth in 2008 and achievement of market leadership for the fifth successive year.

Branch Sales Heads, Unit Heads, Sales Executives and Sales Consultants from all districts in Sri Lanka gathered at the BMICH to pay tribute to these star performers at a six-hour gala themed "Together" – Yes, We Can!, for their role in the company’s achievement of Rs 8.25 billion in premium income last year. More than 350 awards were presented at this colourful event.

Addressing the ceremony as Chief Guest, the Chairman of the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka (IBSL) Udayasri Kariyawasam stressed the importance of such events to appreciate and motivate top performers. "It is those who are receiving awards today who have brought Ceylinco Life to leadership," he said, pointing out that such performances contribute to the development of the insurance industry. The growth of the insurance industry in turn contributes to the development of the financial services sector and consequently to the national economy, Kariyawasam said.

Elaborating on some of the reasons for the current crisis facing international and national economies and companies, he noted that although banks, finance and leasing companies have had problems, the insurance sector had not faced setbacks.

He stressed that there has to be a coming together of companies to manage the current economic crisis, and pointed out that it is critically important for insurance companies to maintain the trust and confidence of their policyholders by giving priority to the public interest.