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Hospital for gem therapy mooted:

A ‘gem’ of an exporter

The word ‘Gem’ creates a pleasant image in our minds because of its beauty, lucrativeness and its relevance to Sri Lanka’s economy and culture. A creative person earning foreign exchange for the country can be referred to as a ‘gem’ of a person. Managing Director, Atlanta International Company (Pvt) Ltd, Janaka Hewasinghe is also a creative and multi-skilled young businessman who specializes in gems, jewellery and diamonds earning foreign exchange for the country.



Janaka Hewasinghe.
Pix by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

He was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Hewasinghe who hails from Veyangoda was born as the eldest in a family of two children. He had his school education at Veyangoda Central College. His wish was to treat people and was keen on becoming a doctor.

However, like many other students in Sri Lanka he was short of a few marks to enter Medical College. He entered the Wayamba University and obtained a BSc degree in Agriculture. Thereafter, he followed a two-year course on Gemology and Geology at the Katubedda campus where he decided on his career path.

Ola leaf

“My father was a Government servant and his hobby was reading and doing research on gems in Sri Lanka. From my childhood, he taught me about gems and his various findings. I started learning about gems when I was around five years. My father had an ola leaf given to him by a friend which explained how ancient kings used gems in their lives.

My mother was a school teacher and she knew Sanskrit. She was able to read the ola leaf which was very interesting. With these experiences, I felt I should go on this path”, he said.

Hewasinghe started a small gem shop at his residence in 1999 while studying in the campus. In 2001 he registered the business as a limited liability company and employed two others. During the time he got the opportunity to participate in a program conducted by the Export Development Board on the ‘New Initiative Company specific program’ and secured twelfth place.

“I was exposed to the industry and motivated following this opportunity,” he said. When he went to India to do gem business he got the opportunity to study traditional gem therapy from a traditional guru. He studied 64 related subjects in three years and acquired a vast knowledge.

Gem therapy


Gems being processed at the factory in Seeduwa

Up-to now he has treated several reputed and wealthy people on gem therapy. This is the line of my interest and more than money I gained a great deal of satisfaction, he said.

“In the meantime my business also progressed well, and at the time I had 72 lapidarists working under me, at Bandarawela and Veyangoda. There was a huge demand for gems. I only catered to the export market and exported value added gems and never rough gems. I followed a course on heat treatment for gems at the Gem and Jewellery Research Institute in Colombo.

Hewasinghe has participated in several gems exhibitions and received orders from UK, Thailand, India, Switzerland and Dubai. His annual turnover is around Rs. 51 million. He has set up a branch in Australia where his brother is in charge.

Asked about the difficulties, he faced at the beginning, he said that he did not have a serious problem because he did not require a huge capital to start the business. “I had the best buyers from the USA and India. I have maintained a good relationship and they trust me. Trustworthiness is the success of this business. He has exported a blue sapphire, the most valuable gem to USA worth nearly Rs. 150 million.

Resources

He is keen on setting up a hospital for Gem Therapy. “This proposal came from one of my clients who was treated by me. I need a huge investment and I am working on it. That will be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Outlining the future of the industry in Sri Lanka, he said, “If our resources are properly utilized we can earn all our foreign exchange on the export of gems. We should never export rough gems. With the dawn of peace in the country the industry will flourish with foreigners visiting the country.

The foreign exchange to Sri Lanka does not come because there is no recognition or benefit for those who earn foreign exchange and most of them invest the money in other countries,” he said.

 

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