Jewellery makers complain of foreigners in local market

Anjana SAMARASINGHE

GEM TRADE: Local jewellery manufacturers complain that they lose business due to foreign manufacturers who are established in Sri Lanka.

The main organiser of the Association of All Island Jewellery Workers Athula Ginnaliya told Daily News that there are many foreign jewellery workers who have migrated to Sri Lanka from countries such as India.

These workers can have visas without any difficulty. They also have latest technology on jewellery manufacturing and local manufacturers lose business opportunities due to these foreign industrialists.

The Government should take necessary action on these migrant industrialists, he said.

Imported jewellery is another obstacle in the industry. There is a tax imposed on imported jewellery but it seems that the tax imposed is not functioning properly, he said.

These industrialists are unable to increase their labour charges due to the high production cost. Gold prices too are increasing day by day and it is important to grant special permits for manufacturers to purchase gold, he said.

The Association has also made arrangements to provide identity cards for local manufacturers with the help of the Government to facilitate their businesses.

These identity cards will have clear recognition when manufacturers deal with banks and other Government institutes.

The lack of latest technology is another barrier for the industry when competing with the international market. The Association expects to conduct workshops on latest technology and the export market for industrialists with the help of the EDB.

According to the Customs Unit of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority there is a 68% duty on each jewellery item imported to Sri Lanka and this duty is functioning.

But the imported jewellery components are exempt from the duty and these components need to be used for jewellery that are exported.