'Jewels Sri Lanka' on Friday

The "Jewels Sri Lanka 2010," jewellery, gem and other metals exhibition will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the BMICH, Colombo on December 10. Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa will also be present. The exhibition which will continue daily till December 12 will be opened on its second day on December 11 by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa while Prime Minister D M Jayaratne will open it on the third day on December 12. The exhibition is jointly organized by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and the Gemmologists Association under the guidance of Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.

The main objective of the exhibition is to open the doors of the international market to small and medium-scale businessmen as well as large-scale gem and jewellery exporters, said NGJA Chairman and CEO Anil Koswatte.

All facilities would be provided to the participants and workers to the exhibition which has been planned with the intention of making Sri Lanka the world leader in the export of quality gems and jewellery.

Koswatte said those participating in this exhibition will qualify to participate in other similar exhibitions planned by the NGJA next year.

Buyers from USA, India, China, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Russia and several other countries have been invited to visit the exhibition.