HNB ASSURANCE
Biodiversity Means Business:
A Decade of Impact,
A Future of Action
“The returns – ecological resilience, community wellbeing and business reputation – are far-reaching and lasting”
Executive Director
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer
General Manager
HNB Assurance is committed not only to securing lives and livelihoods but also preserving the natural environment on which they depend. “We recognise that biodiversity is not an abstract concept but a living system that underpins human wellbeing, preservation of the ecology, economic stability and future resilience,” says Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Lasitha Wimalaratne.
The decision to join Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) in 2023 was guided by the company’s environmental protection pillar, one of three under its sustainability and CSR framework. He explains: “We sought a credible partner with a science based, collaborative approach to conservation where our financial support could deliver measurable ecological impact.”
Through BSL, HNB Assurance has channelled resources into targeted biodiversity restoration initiatives, moving beyond symbolic green activities towards long-term environmental stewardship backed by transparency, credible science and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
FLAGSHIP PROJECT One of the company’s flagship efforts is its sponsorship of the Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) removal project at the Lunugamvehera National Park, a vital wildlife corridor between Yala and Udawalawe. The initiative is led by the Federation of Environmental Organisations (FEO) with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) coordinated through BSL.
“Our role as a corporate sponsor enables the removal of IAPS such as Lantana camara and Eupatorium odoratum, which have been degrading the park’s grasslands; displacing native plants; and reducing food sources for elephants, deer and other herbivores,” Wimalaratne asserts.
The project began with the restoration of 15 hectares in 2023, which was expanded to 30 hectares in 2024 and is set to continue in the years ahead. By funding clearance and maintenance, HNB Assurance helps restore native vegetation, improve habitats and reduce the human elephant conflict by ensuring wildlife can feed within their natural grounds.
LONG-TERM MODEL Unlike many short-lived conservation projects, this initiative is built for long-term resilience. “Many biodiversity initiatives end after initial removal but invasive species are quick to return without sustained maintenance,” Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer and General Manager Dinesh Yogaratnam explains.
The project uses manual uprooting, multiple maintenance cycles and close monitoring to ensure lasting impact. It also integrates local community participation, creating livelihoods while instilling shared responsibility for conservation.
He avers: “This multi-stakeholder model – blending corporate funding, conservation expertise, government oversight and community involvement – is rare in the insurance sector.”
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES The project has already produced tangible ecological outcomes. Thirty hectares have been restored with native grasses and shrubs regenerating to provide food for elephants, deer and wild boar. Predator species such as jackals and leopards have also returned – a sign of ecosystems regaining balance.
“By mitigating human elephant conflict, the project indirectly supports community safety and economic stability in surrounding villages,” Wimalaratne asserts.
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS The journey has not been without obstacles. He explains: “The key challenge was ensuring that our funding would result in lasting environmental change rather than short-lived results.” Invasive plants are notoriously resilient; but by committing to multi-year funding and maintenance, the project is delivering sustainable outcomes.
Another vital insight has been the importance of community buy in. Engaging local villagers in removal work provides income opportunities while building ecological awareness. “Conservation outcomes are stronger when local people benefit directly,” Yogaratnam affirms.
The lesson for other corporates is clear, he notes: “Biodiversity investment must be long-term and partnership driven. Quick wins are rare. True ecological restoration demands persistence, adequate funding and alignment with credible on the ground partners.”
HNB Assurance plans to continue scaling nature based solutions that benefit both ecosystems and communities. Building on the Lunugamvehera project, future initiatives will expand efforts to restore biodiversity and foster harmonious human animal coexistence.
Wimalaratne asserts: “Our message is simple: investing in nature is investing in our future. The returns – ecological resilience, community wellbeing and business reputation – are far-reaching and lasting.”
Telephone 1301 | Email info@hnbassurance.com | Website www.hnbassurance.com
