Sri Lanka Insurance upgrades Customer Care

By Cheranka Mendis

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) is gearing itself to retain the title as the market leader for general insurance by launching its very own 24/7 customer care centre and revamped website. The Company which received the status after a lapse of eight years will face competition with new products and services.

SLIC with its unparalleled asset base of Rs. 88 billion and a top level corporate performer yesterday launched the upgraded Customer Care Centre equipped with modern communication technologies and a toll free number for the convenience of its customer base. The toll free service is available through a number of telecom operators which includes dialog, Sri Lanka Telecom, Lanka Bell or Suntel by dialing the respective service provider’s fixed line code immediately before the SLI Customer Care number 357357.

Managing Director and CEO of SLIC Mohan De Alwis speaking at the launch stated that the call centre has been on the Company’s cards for some time and that the launch would signal better customer service for its loyal clientele. “The need was there to have this call centre for value addition. The newly revamped website is the first step to move forward in the modern world,” he said. He asserted that the website now available in English and will soon be accessible in Sinhala and Tamil as well.

De Alwis stated that with an excellent performing 2010 and a growth ridden Q1, SLIC is expecting a 25% growth during the year. As at December 31, 2010 the Company managed to secure the highest in the corporate sector in profitability with Rs 15.1 billion in profit before tax and Rs.13.3 billion as profit after tax. SLIC also managed to establish a record breakthrough in continuing the bonus to its life policy holder members which ran up to Rs. 3.4 billion- a number considered a ‘staggering’ one which remains unmatched by any in the insurance company. In 2009, the number was at Rs. 3 billion.

 “We also achieved a surge in sales in both life and savings. We have seen a surge in motor sector as well,” De Alwis said. For the year ended December 2010, the company has recorded life fun of over Rs. 49.5 billion and over 600,000 life policies in force. The company is also the only insurer in the country to be ranked AAA by RAM Ratings Lanka and AA (lka) stable outlook by Fitch Ratings London.

 “We are a public company and what is important is the level of service. Our high level is represented by the marker share we received by being named the market leader in general insurance after a lapse of eight years. The strength of the company is evident through this status and we are confident that we will be able to hold it for the coming years," he added.