Arpico Insurance appoints industry veteran Jayalal Hewawasam as CEO

Friday, 23 January 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Arpico Insurance PLC, a subsidiary of the blue-chip conglomerate Richard Pieris & Company PLC, and a leading Life Insurer in Sri Lanka, has appointed Jayalal Hewawasam as its new Chief Executive Officer.

This appointment marks a strategic milestone for the company as it enters a new phase of growth and innovation within the insurance industry of Sri Lanka.

Hewawasam brings over 25 years of specialised experience in Sales, Marketing, and General Management to Arpico Insurance, while his distinguished career spans both the insurance industry and the FMCG sector, with significant leadership roles across Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Prior to this appointment, he successfully led Allianz Life Insurance Sri Lanka, the local arm of the multinational financial services giant Allianz SE of Germany, as its Chief Executive Officer.

Arpico Insurance PLC Chairman Ramal Jasinghe said: “We are delighted to welcome Jayalal Hewawasam as the CEO of Arpico Insurance PLC. Jayalal is a respected professional in the insurance fraternity, known for his strategic foresight and commitment to excellence. His experience across diverse environments will be instrumental as we continue to build on the strong foundation laid over the years and his appointment will place Arpico Insurance on a trajectory of sustainable growth. We have every confidence that under his leadership, the company will reach new heights, delivering innovative solutions that resonate with our policyholders and creating sustainable value for our stakeholders.”

Before his tenure at Allianz, Hewawasam served as Managing Director and CEO at Assetline Insurance Brokers Ltd. and held senior management positions at Union Assurance, AIG Insurance Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. Beyond Insurance, his early career included roles at Chevron Lubricants Sri Lanka, United Breweries Lanka, International Distillers Lanka Ltd, and Maliban Biscuits Ltd.

A Chartered Insurer and a Chartered Marketer, Hewawasam is a Fellow of both the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM), both of the UK, and is also a Graduate Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (GSLID). Academically, he holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, where he also served as President of the PIM Alumni (2018/19). At present, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at the same university.

Speaking on his new role, Hewawasam said: “It is an honour to be appointed the CEO of Arpico Insurance PLC, a company that is committed to its core philosophy of “Insurance for the Living,” backed by the strength and stability emanating from the 90-year legacy of the Richard Pieris Group. My focus will be on driving service excellence and innovation, ensuring that we continue to protect the lives and futures of our customers with integrity and passion. I eagerly look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors and our exceptional management team to further the advancement of the Company, as well as the life insurance industry in general.”