Following the nation’s global acclaim as one of the seven United Nations (UN) World Restoration Flagships for the ‘Mangrove Regeneration’ project in Sri Lanka, Advantis Group, the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys PLC, a key stakeholder extending technical support to the project, joined the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to celebrate this world-renowned recognition and to amplify awareness on the importance of these unique keystone ecosystems on World Seagrass Day.
As part of the day’s events aimed at highlighting the importance of blue forests, Advantis hosted an insightful session at St. Mary’s College, Negombo, where students from diverse schools gathered to delve into the intricacies of blue carbon ecosystems. Professor Sevvandi Jayakody, Chairperson of the National Mangrove Expert Committee, skillfully led the session, imparting invaluable insights to the audience.
Attaining recognition as a World Restoration Flagship empowers Sri Lanka to access crucial technical and financial support from the UN. This pivotal step aligns with the nation’s ambitious 2030 target of restoring 10,000 hectares of mangroves, equivalent to over 50% of the country’s mangrove cover, benefiting 5,000 households and fostering the creation of over 4,000 new jobs.
“We are proud to be a part of Sri Lanka’s pioneering journey to replenish blue carbon ecosystems. Collectively, such habitats play an even more critical role than terrestrial forests in the battle against climate change, accounting for as much as 40% of all CO2 sinking capacity globally. The collective effort of all stakeholders in this project proves that when we work together, we can make a real difference. We encourage all Sri Lankans to lend their support to this vital cause,” said Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director of Advantis Group.
The Mangrove Regeneration Project in Sri Lanka includes multiple stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environment – Sri Lanka, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) – Sri Lanka, Wayamba University, Biodiversity Sri Lanka and several other partners, including Private Sector entities such as Advantis.
“Being recognised as a UN World Restoration Flagship is a monumental milestone for Sri Lanka. It reflects our nation’s commitment and expertise in environmental conservation. The collaborative endeavour involving partners like Advantis has been invaluable to our success.
“Our work has only just begun, but our findings are already helping in the creation of sustainable frameworks for the global regeneration of blue carbon resources. We invite all Sri Lankans to get engaged in our efforts, and learn more about what each of us can do to keep making a positive impact,” said Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, Chairperson of the National Mangrove Expert Committee.
Leveraging its own Blue Carbon conservation initiative – Advantis Blue C, Advantis has significantly contributed to this national endeavour, offering vital technical and financial support since the inception of the Project.
Additionally, utilising its unmatched maritime capabilities, Advantis enhanced research capabilities for the project, providing and constructing a specialised research laboratory for sample collection, in addition to direct engagement of its employee volunteers in field data collection efforts. With a commitment to ongoing contributions to this cause, the Group aims to sustain its support in the future.
Advantis is a diversified transportation and logistics provider, with over six decades of experience and operations spread across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Backed by the blue-chip multinational conglomerate Hayleys PLC, Advantis is at the forefront of the transportation and logistics industries providing end-to-end solutions covering Freight Management, Integrated Logistics, Marine and Energy, Projects and Engineering, and Travel and Aviation. In recognition of Advantis’ exceptional service, the Group has been honoured with the prestigious title of ‘Best Transportation and Logistics Company in Sri Lanka and South Asia’ by Global Brands Magazine. For more information on Advantis, visit www.advantis.world
