SriLankan joins global crackdown

Illegal wildlife trade:

SriLankan Airlines joined a landmark worldwide drive to crackdown on the illegal global trade in wildlife that has brought many of the world's rare species close to extinction.

CEO, SriLankan Airlines, Captain Suren Ratwatte, who signed on behalf of Sri Lanka's National Carrier, said, "SriLankan Airlines has long been a pioneer of conservation within the global air transport industry, with ground-breaking initiatives such as our 'Planet Friendly Flights' as far back as 2009, and our own extensive conservation efforts are driven by our 'Green Team'.""This initiative will significantly reduce trafficking in illegal species and animal products, and we hope it will help to bring many species back from the verge of extinction," he said.

SriLankan was among several international airlines which pledged their full support for the 'United for Wildlife' initiative, at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on June 2 in Dublin, Ireland.

The initiative by major organisations involved in conservation is being supported by the global transportation industry.