Raids on 768 illegal gem mines

Irangika Range Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) has earned an income of Rs 8.3 million by conducting 768 islandwide raids against illegal gem mining in 2009, Parliament was told yesterday. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa revealed this in response to an oral question raised by UPFA MP YG Padmasiri.

Minister Yapa further said that the total income generated through the export of gems and jewellery was Rs 45,431 million in 2009.

"It is a decrease in the overall income compared to the previous year. The economic downturn that prevailed in the United States who is the principal buyer of Sri Lankan gems, had caused the decrease in demand for Sri Lankan gems."

He said the NGJA has focused on new gems and jewellery markets in China, Russia and India to promote local gems and jewellery as a result of the decrease in export demand for gems in the United States of America.

The "Sri Lanka forum" was organised at three international gems and jewellery trade fairs held in 2009 with support from the Sri Lankan Embassy in China and Sri Lanka Gems and Jewellery Association enabling 107 exporters to present their exhibits and gain access to the market there. In addition, the Sri Lanka Forum was held at International Exhibitions in Japan and America in 2009.

The Sri Lanka Forum was organised for the 18th time at the Hong Kong Gems and Jewellery Exhibition, which is a leading jewellery exhibition Hold in Hong Kong. At the same time the "Sri Lanka Forum" was organised at the international trade fairs held in India and Singapore, where a lucrative business has evolved for Sri Lankan gems and jewellery.