Gem and jewellery export market :
Earnings top Rs 45 b
New markets in Asia, Middle-East:
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.
|
Gems and
jewellery, a major money spinner for Lanka |
A number of steps were taken under Mahinda Chintana to develop the
gem industry and efforts taken to find new markets helped to prevent the
Sri Lanka’s gem industry 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, minimize 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. He recalls
that the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court dismissed cases filed by
some Non-Governmental Organizations against the NGJA’s plans.
He expressed regret that certain media organizations which gave big
publicity to the NGO allegations failed to report the courts dismissing
their cases.
He assures that all steps have been taken to minimize environmental
damage and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority had detected and
foiled a number of instances of unauthorized gem mining.
|