SriLankan Airlines Premieres Latest ‘Mathaka’ Range at Sri Lanka Design Festival
SriLankan Airlines, the official Airline Partner of the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), premiered the latest range of products under its award- winning upcycle brand, ‘Mathaka,’ at the event held from 6 to 11 November 2024 at Cinnamon Life. Launched in 2021, SriLankan Airlines’ ‘Mathaka’ brand transforms the
airlines retired materials into a range of on-trend lifestyle products and collectibles,
underscoring its commitment to being one of South Asia’s most sustainable airlines.
SriLankan Airlines, like many organizations worldwide, has faced the challenge of ethically
disposing of materials retired from its operations. For the airline, this meant dealing with
unusable aircraft seat covers, blankets, curtains, uniforms, wooden air cargo pallets and other
items. The airline found its solution in Mathaka, aptly named for transforming remnants of
yesterday’s onboard product into brand new consumer items. Mathaka allows SriLankan
Airlines to take its planet-friendly philosophy to another level by fashioning people’s memories
of air travel into tangible products.
The latest range, which includes travel bags, tote bags, peg dolls, table runners and mats,
and many more exciting items, also ushers in a new era for Mathaka, with SriLankan
Airlines forming collaborations with three Sri Lankan women sustainable entrepreneurs to
create Mathaka products. This consists of House of Lonali, founded by Lonali Rodrigo; SO4
by Ruth Weerasinghe; and Pom’s Island by Shamin Abideen. In addition to its sustainable
advantages, the Mathaka project also supports the livelihoods of economically
disadvantaged women, who are involved in producing certain Mathaka items.
Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer at SriLankan Airlines, stated, “Since our earliest
days, SriLankan Airlines has championed environmental causes, backing our commitment
with action. We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding individuals, with whom
we share a deep commitment to sustainable practices, to create our latest range of
Mathaka products. We are also grateful to everyone who explored the Mathaka collection
at SLDF; your enthusiasm for sustainability inspires us to keep pushing the green envelope,
and we look forward to bringing these items to the marketplace very soon.”
Saminda Perera, Head of Marketing, Environmental Affairs, and Sustainability at SriLankan
Airlines, added, “As we continue to evolve in a world that demands more sustainable
practices, we are excited to introduce the next phase of Mathaka. This initiative aligns with
our sustainability goals and offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact
through innovation, women’s empowerment and community-driven enterprise. It’s a reminder that sustainability is a shared responsibility – one that we proudly uphold as a
company and as global citizens.”
The new Mathaka collection was unveiled at SriLankan Airlines’ stall at SLDF, which also
showcased the airline’s other sustainability efforts. SriLankan also hosted a workshop led by
Pom’s Island founder, Shamin Abideen, during SLDF, focusing on upcycling and recycling pallet
wood.
Project Mathaka is one of several initiatives undertaken by the airlines Marketing and
Environmental Affairs and Sustainability team to support the environment in measured and
impactful ways. SriLankan Airlines was the first airline in Asia to introduce ‘Planet Friendly Flights’
back in 2009 and was named the second lowest carbon-emitting airline in the Asia-Pacific in 2016
by Business Traveller. For more details on SriLankan’s Mathaka range, visit https://www.srilankan.com/en_uk/corporate/mathaka
