Page 44 - Insurance Times August 2023

Interview of Saroja Gunatillek

S. G Afzal Biya Bani : What advice would you give to as- With the new insurance regulations being introduced world-
piring professionals who are interested in pursuing a ca- wide for example, in Sri Lanka we saw RBC being introduced
reer in actuarial science and risk management? seven & half years ago which increased the opportunities
Saroja Gunatilleke : Actuarial science and risk manage- for actuaries. We were required to carry out more compu-
ment, is considered to be a tough qualification to obtain. tations and our overall involvement in insurance companies
Tough but not impossible. And when you become a quali- increased. IFRS17 will also bring more opportunities for
fied actuary say a Fellow of the UK or Indian Institute of actuaries although this Financial Reporting Standards are
Actuaries you become a well-respected professional and the yet to be introduced in Sri Lanka.
pay is great too!
S. G Afzal Biya Bani : Is there any thing else you would
So isn’t it worth going through a few tough years commit-
like to share with our readers about your actuarial & risk
ted to your studies if it gives you great opportunities for
management consultancy &training services, particularly
the rest of your career?
highlighting your unique expertise?
I believe that the level of mathematical understanding is Saroja Gunatilleke : As I mentioned earlier, my experience
good in our region. Hence, the main thing I feel is to com- has been quite overall. I was fortunate to obtain experi-
mence the studies and stay focused to see it through. ence in RBC from both an industry and regulatory perspec-
tive. I worked in a life insurance company at the initial stage
S. G Afzal Biya Bani : What are the future potential op- of RBC implementation. And also worked at the insurance
portunities in the field of actuarial science? regulator after RBC was implemented seeing the overall
Saroja Gunatilleke : The potential opportunities keep in- picture of both life and non-life insurance companies. This
creasing for actuaries not just in the insurance sector but experience has helped me immensely in delivering my ad-
also in non-traditional roles. visory and training services though my consultancy.

PRESS RELEASE

HDFC Life’s latest campaign featuring Rishabh Pant
The campaign serves as a powerful reminder of the fact that life is unpredictable and seldom gives second chances. This makes
it necessary for one to prepare beforehand to enable their loved ones bounce back from any challenge that life throws their way.
The film showcases the real-life story of Rishabh Pant and his journey of realisation. Through the film we see glimpses of his
numerous accomplishments, moments of happiness and the experience that taught him the biggest lesson of his life.
Speaking about his association with the campaign, Rishabh Pant said, “I am happy to be associated with HDFC Life for this
campaign. Life is unpredictable, and HDFC Life has been at the forefront of encouraging people to financially secure themselves
and their families against life’s uncertainties. Life insurance is a financial product that not only acts as a safety net but also
enables us to continue the journey ahead with a sense of pride.”
Vishal Subharwal, Chief Marketing Officer and Group Head - Strategy, HDFC Life added, “The film captures the true essence
of life while bringing the spotlight on the core benefit of term life insurance. We hope that the powerful real-life story of
Rishabh Pant, a role model for many and a world-class athlete, serves as a pertinent example to make one realise the
uncertainties of life and the need for financial protection. Most Indian households find it hard to sustain their living standards
in the absence of adequate life insurance cover. We sincerely hope that this campaign will educate and inspire more
individuals to secure their families with Term Insurance.”
Rajdeepak Das, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia said, “The pandemic has left us with a false sense of
invincibility. With this campaign we wanted to reiterate that not everyone gets a second chance at life. The biggest mistake
we can make is to not learn from our mistakes and to bring home the message of unpredictability. We drew inspiration from
the real-life incident of cricketer Rishabh Pant where he survived a near-fatal road accident. Our campaign breaks the
illusion of invincibility and reiterates the importance of financial planning.”

38 August 2023 The Insurance Times