The audits covered every possible factor including the level of customer service, responsiveness to needs of customer airlines, quality, presentation of meals, hygiene, overall catering operation and on-time delivery.

"SriLankan Catering has once again done our nation proud, by winning an international accolade over and above intense competition from larger caterers. This proves quite decisively that there is nothing that cannot be achieved by a small team that is dedicated to providing the very best to its customers. It is indeed a special feeling to receive the recognition of our peers in the global air transport industry," said Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines and SriLankan Catering.

Since its launch in 2003, Etihad has built a reputation as one of the world's leading carriers, winning awards such as the World Travel Awards in 2009 and 2010. The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad has a fleet of 57 aircraft which operate close to 1,000 flights per week, serving an international network of 67 destinations in 45 countries.