INSEE Cement powers ahead with animal rescue for 8th consecutive year with IUCN

Saturday, 4 February 2017 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Untitled-2Volunteers with the team from INSEE Cement (front row from left): Theekshani Jayaweera, Fiona Nanayakkara, IndikaRanathunga, Mihiraj Sandaruwan (UOM), Shyam Jayasundara, Hasaranga Thilan (YBA), Menan Jayarathne, Sampath Wijesinghe, (Back row from left): Sarath Ekanayake (IUCN), IUCN team member, Shivantha Gunabandu, Rohan Lakmal, Udaya Cooray, Sumith Rudrigu, Kasun Samarasinghe, Buminda Jayasuriya (USJP), Sanjaya Leekolapitiya, IUCN team member, Sachintha Siriwardhena, Chathuri Edirisinghe (USJP), IUCN team member, Anuruddhika Jayasundera, IUCN team member, IUCN team member

 

 

INSEE Cement, the first green cement manufacturer in Sri Lanka continued their renowned and popular animal rescue program for an eighth consecutive year, in partnership with the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the Aruakalu quarry site.

Maintaining its commitment to the conservation of the environment as part of the global Sustainability Strategy, anchored to the triple bottom-line approach of creating value for people and the planet, alongside profitability, the company places great emphasis on the protection and promotion of biodiversity as part of its initiative to protect and practice responsible quarrying. 

INSEE Cement Director Sustainable Development, Communications and External Affairs Farzana Khan commented, “It is both an honour and a pleasure to be met with such avid support of this animal rescue program, meeting its eighth year of success. Our partnership with the IUCN saw its beginnings in 2009.”

Thus far INSEE Cement has seen the relocation of over 11,000 species of slow moving animals. As popularity of the program increased since 2012, increased number of volunteers has led to over 2500 animals being rescued annually. “We believe in embedding this green culture and above all responsibility for our actions – in this case responsible quarrying, from which we can see the fruit of our labour and passion coming alive in all our employees,” stated Farzana.

As the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation and a leading authority on environmental and sustainable development, IUCN enhances INSEE Cement’s initiative for animal rescue through leveraging  their exponential expertise, thus how INSEE Cement has achieved exceptional results in four key bio diversity areas which begin at the monitoring flora and fauna in these potential quarry sites, the rescue and release program, the post-mining refill of the quarry site which continues into reforestation and finally the continued monitoring of the progress of rehabilitation.

IUCN Program Coordinator Shamen Vidanage commenting on the partnership with INSEE Cement said, “This is an outstanding effort made by INSEE Cement. Having carried this through with such vigour and passion from inception has been a feat that INSEE Cement has carried on in the years past. We look forward to the continued success of this program and the continued partnership with INSEE Cement.” 

 

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