All causes need their champions, and a company’s commitment to create change is no different – champions are needed to provide leadership, to provide guidance, to be the example, to be the voice. When we talk about AIA Insurance’s commitment to Gender Equality in the Workplace Chathuri Munaweera (Director and Chief Officer- Legal, Governance and Operations) is one such champion. We are thrilled to see her recognized as such not only by her colleagues at AIA Insurance but by the IFC-DFAT SheWorks program who recently recognized Chathuri as one of the 16 trailblazers who are driving gender equality across Sri Lanka.

AIA Insurance Sri Lanka was recently recognized as the Best Life Insurance Company in Sri Lanka for 2019, by the UK based Global Banking and Finance Review. This is a reflection of our strong performance and financial stability, which is important now more than ever considering the economic situation. In this article we explore the 4 indicators of financial stability that not only led to us achieving this global recognition, but also shows why your hard-earned savings are safe with us.

Retirement planning is probably not high on your agenda when you are on your first job and enjoying the financial freedom it brings. To some, it’s not even on the agenda at age 40 as you juggle your monthly budget with mortgage, school fees, medical bills and perhaps supporting a sick parent. In fact, it can be harder to set aside a budget for your retirement plans at 40 than in your 20’s! Experts say that the best time to get started is when you are young and have less commitments. It could be one of the most important decisions that you make to get ahead of your peers and approach your career and life with confidence.

Retirement is a phase of life that should be enjoyed as a reward for all the hard work and sacrifices of a lifetime. Unfortunately, very few people actually plan ahead for this inevitable phase and end up working even harder to pay off debts that have been accumulated due to bad planning and financial management. Retirement planning includes identifying sources of income, estimating expenses, implementing a savings programme, managing assets and risks. Future cash flows are estimated to determine if the retirement income goal will be achieved.

Money matters become more complicated as you leave your 20s and take on varied responsibilities.

If there’s one thing 2020 taught us… scratch that, 2020 taught us much more than one thing! It really turned everything we knew upside down, or perhaps somethings the right side up. Taught us words like the new normal and social distancing. How about the number of times we end up washing hands for a day, or the fact that putting on a mask is no longer second nature!

Mental health – it’s a subject we don’t hear much about, at least not in the workplace. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. In fact, the lack of transparency and openness on mental health issues can result in employees suffering in silence, to the detriment of both their own wellbeing and business performance. What is Mental Health? The World Health Organisation defines mental health as, “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” We tend to think of mental health in terms of illness, rather than wellness. Often, we envision psychotic behaviour or personality disorders when discussing mental health. But in truth, it is better described as a continuum that every individual sits on. Over time, depending on how life is going for us, we move up and down this sliding scale. In a culture where mental health is discussed in hushed tones, overcoming the taboo is important. Mental illness can affect anyone, whether you are a male or female, young or old, without discrimination. And just like any physical condition, it doesn’t simply appear out of nowhere. AIA Vitality examined the mental wellbeing of employees in Sri Lankan businesses, as part of its Healthiest Workplace Survey. Read on to find out what the results revealed.

You know what they say about all work and no play. Facilitating fun activities furthers an enjoyable work culture. These endeavours create perfect bonding opportunities - an essential part of developing effective teams. Engaging employees socially is one way we can help them lead better lives. Not only is it important for their mental health but it also promotes a positive attitude. Given the current circumstances, that is definitely worth investing in. The team at AIA Insurance Sri Lanka supports our customers & employees with utmost dedication. Even amid the averse pandemic conditions, it is their first priority. But during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, it was time for them to put their hair down, and have some fun.

When you curl up under the covers at night, you probably settle into your favorite position without thinking much about it. But, could one sleeping position be better than another? For young, healthy people, sleeping positions are less important. But, as you get older and can have more medical issues, this can have a positive or negative impact on your health and well being. Poor sleeping posture could also cause back and neck pain, fatigue, sleep apnea, muscle cramping, impaired blood circulation, headaches, heartburn, tummy troubles and even premature wrinkles! Recent studies have identified 5 groups of people with significantly different sleep patterns – but they all shared some similar characteristics. Which group do you fall into?

One of the most common office conversations starts with, “You look tired. Late night?” And the usual answer is “No. Just didn’t sleep well”. Whilst, at the same time, looking around enviously at colleagues who seem full of life and wide awake. Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Recent studies have identified 5 groups of people with significantly different sleep patterns – but they all shared some similar characteristics. Which group do you fall into?

Did you know that when you are dealing with jet lag, night shift work, or even insomnia, an inconsistent sleep schedule can impact your mood, concentration and weight? The good news is that you can re-schedule your sleep cycle to get better rest. But, before you find out how to recover from this irregular pattern, it is important to understand your internal body clock. Also called the circadian rhythm, your body clock tells your body when to sleep and wake up. Many of the important things going on in your body relies on this sleep-wake cycle. That's why an inconsistent sleep schedule can hurt your overall health and leave you feeling groggy during the day.

It's a well-known fact that the quality of sleep affects our overall health and wellbeing. It is also interesting to note the relationship between a healthy exercise routine and your quality of sleep.

Sleep problems are fairly common amongst many of people. In fact, one in four people experience sleep difficulties, which include difficulty in falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, waking up early morning, over sleeping, or even restless sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep can improve your mental wellbeing and health.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, medicines should NOT be your first option. Regular exercise, avoiding caffeine and alcohol after midday, eating less in the evening, reducing “screen time” before bed and making your bedroom comfortable for sleep should be your first options. But, if you have tried everything and are still struggling with sleep, medication may be an option to explore. However, it should be considered ONLY as a short term remedy until you get back to your own healthy routine of sleep.