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Support for Gem and Jewellery centre in Lanka

The government is supporting the gem industry to promote Sri Lanka as a gem and jewellery centre, said Minister Assisting Foreign Affairs Lal Dharmapriya Gamage.

Gamage was speaking at a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss proposals of the committee appointed to look into problems faced by prospective Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who visit Madagascar to buy gems and obtain government officers and gem and jewellery businessmen's views. He said programmes would be initiated under the guidance of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The minister stressed the importance of creating an international opinion that Sri Lanka is the most reliable center where gems and jewellery of high quality and superb craftsmanship could be purchased at a fair price with a guarantee from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority.

He said this programme would support the development of the country's national economy and generate employment.

The Prime Minister instructed Lal Gamage, Minister Assisting Foreign Affairs to solve problems faced by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs visiting Madagascar to buy gems after Minister of Mass Communications Imthiaz Bakeer Marker drew Cabinet attention to this problem. The meeting was organised as a preliminary step to achieve this.

Minister of Smallholder Development Susantha Punchinilame, Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and top officers of state agencies including the SriLankan Airlines, Export Development Board and members of the Sri Lanka Gem Traders' Association participated at the meeting.

Gamage discussing problems of Sri Lankans visiting Madagascar to purchase gems, said solutions to many problems faced by Sri Lankan gem traders could be found by opening a branch office of the National Gem & Jewellery Authority in Madagascar to facilitate export of gems.

The Minister also agreed to explore possibilities of liberalising exchange regulations to grant permission for Sri Lankans to take currency notes to a maximum of US$ 5000. He said linking with Madagascar banks could benefit Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. The Minister stated that matters relating to the possibilities of introducing air links between Sri Lanka and Madagascar are being explored and informed representatives that discussions will be held with the Foreign Ministers of Madagascar and Mauritius States soon to reach an agreement.

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