Sri Lanka Sees Over 20pct Growth in Gem, Diamond & Jewelry Sector during First Half of 2010

14th December 2010, lankapuvath.lk

The Gem, Diamond and Jewellery Sector has recorded an overall growth of 20.6% during the first half of 2010 earning a revenue of US.$ 197.06 Million, compared to U.S.$ 163.4 Million earned during the same period last year.

With the Gems and Jewellery market getting saturated with imitation and artificial gem stones and the demand for authenticated natural gem stones getting increased the Gem and Jewellery Authority has made arrangements with the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association to establish a separate entity, Lanka Gemological Laboratory (Pvt) Ltd., with the capacity to issue internationally recognized testing reports.

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) has also taken steps to train and develop a resource base of Gemologists, providing opportunities to those who excel at the Certificate Course conducted by the University of Moratuwa to receive further training at the NGJA laboratory with a view to introduce them as gemologists and entrepreneurs to the industry.

The Authority has also taken steps to upgrade the skills of the gem miners, organise skills development workshops, establish Gem Industry support service units, conduct environment protection programmes in gem mining areas and activate a legally enforceable process in Jewellery products.

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Blue Sapphire on the Engagement Ring of Prince William is from Sri Lanka

25th November 2010, www.news.lk

Speculation on the origin of the oval blue sapphire on the ring that gave Kate Middleton is now over.

This ring is the same one as given by his father, Prince Charles at his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. It is now known that the oval blue sapphire adorning this ring came from Sri Lanka.

This ring is the most talked about engagement ring in the world today, revealing a sparkling contribution by Sri Lanka to the grandeur of Britain's royal heirloom.

The blue sapphire alone is 12-carat while the 14 solitaire diamonds clustered elegantly around it are set in 18-carat white gold which had cost £28,500 (45,000) USD at the time of purchase three decades ago. Before the Princess of Wales’s death in 1997, the ring was valued at more than £250,000 because of its connection to the royals, and in particular Princess Diana.

SL Gem Export Bring Rs45bn in 2009

17th January 2010, www.nation.lk

Gem, diamond and jewellery export earnings in 2009 amounted to a massive Rs. 45 billion exceeding the estimated target, according to National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman / Chief Executive Officer Hasitha Tillekeratne.

A number of steps were taken under ‘Mahinda Chintana’ ‘to develop the gem industry and discovering new markets helped prevent Sri Lanka’s gem industry from being adversely affected by the global recession resulting in the collapse of markets in Europe, Japan and the USA.

The new markets for Sri Lankan gems are in India, China, Russia, Turkey, Taiwan and Oman.

The national budgets for the past two years granted a number of dividends, thus ensuring the industry’s stability.

In addition to helping the business community, steps have been taken to raise the living standards of traditional gem prospectors, introduce them to new technology, minimise accidents and give maximum compensation to accident victims.

The highest record of gem land auctions were held last year to provide lands for mining while projects were launched to protect infertile state lands where gem deposits are yet to be identified.

Plans have been drawn up to search for gems from the river beds of Mahaweli, Kalu Ganga and other major rivers through environmentally-friendly techniques, says the NGJA Chairman who observed that the supreme court and the appeal court dismissed cases filed by some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) against the NGJA’s plans. He expressed regret that certain media organisations, which gave big publicity to NGO allegations, failed to report the court proceedings.

He assures that all steps have been taken to minimise environmental damage and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority had detected and foiled a number of instances of unauthorised gem mining.

Sri Lanka Gems and Jewellery at Shanghai Jewellery Fair 2009

14th Decembr 2009, www.dailymirror.lk

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority together with Sri Lankan jewellery companies showcased a dazzling array of Sri Lanka's gems and jewellery at the fifth 'China International Gold, Jewellery and Gem Fair 2009' held from 26 to 29 November in Shanghai, China.

Shanghai has now become the leading hub with exchange centres at the heart of the jewellery industry, offering trading in gold, plated gold, diamonds and silver. The fair is being held in Shanghai since 2003. In 2008, the fair attracted over 170 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions and over 9,000 buyers and visitors from home and abroad.

The 16 Sri Lankan companies whic displayed products at the Sri Lanka stall were Beauty Gems, Crest Gems Limited, D. B. Enterprises, Furqan Ali and Sons, Gem Cottage, Jagath Nilantha Gems & Lapidary, K. L. W. Gamini Export, Lanka Rare Gems Exporters & Lapidary, M. R. H. Naina Marikar and Sons, Namlanka Jewellers, South Lankan Gems and Jewellery, Sweeny Jewellers, The Choice, Wijaya Gems, Yong Hua Lanka Gems and Jewellery and Zam Gems.

Several other Sri Lankan companies including Buraak Jewels, Ruby N' Sapphire, Shan Trading Gems, Queen Lanka Gems and Jewellery, Expo Lanka and Multi Gems had set up their very own stalls at the fair. SL gems and jewellery

A special gem and jewellery collection was also on display at the prestigious LAN Club for a selected high end cliental on the sidelines of the jewellery fair, giving the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery companies an opportunity to market their products and position Sri Lanka as a land of sapphires in the Chinese market.

Over US$ 150,000 worth of transactions were carried out during this four hour display.

Sri Lanka's participation was facilitated by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Consulate in Shanghai.

Sri Lankan Gems in China, As A Large Number of Gem and Jewellery Companies Participate in International Trade Fairs

28th October 2009, www.dailynews.lk

Thirty four gem and jewellery companies will participate in trade fairs in China in November this year.

This is the first time a large number of gem and jewellery companies have decided to participate in international trade fairs in China, a senior official of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority told Daily News Business.

The first trade fair, the China International Jewellery Fair, Beijing will be held from November 5 - 9 with the participation of 18 Gem and Jewellery companies from Sri Lanka. The second trade fair, the China Gold, Jewellery and Gem Fair in Shanghai will be held from November 26 to 29 with the participation of 16 gem and jewellery companies from Sri Lanka.

China has been recognized as a potential and lucrative market for Sri Lankan gems and jewellery.