Gem industry gets a boost through high tech venture

H.D.H Senewiratne

To develop the Sri Lankan gem industry as a hub in the region National Gem and Jewelry Authority (NGJA) will draw up plans to set up a high tech gem center/tower in Ratnapura under the twin city programme with Idar-Oberstein city in Germany and Ratnapura Municipal Council.

Amitha Gamage.   Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

“Under this twin city programme they are trying to build an ultra-modern gem tower in the Ratnapura town. Further, Ratnapura will also be developed and improved to international standards and promote it as the gem center in the region,” Chairman/ CEO NGJA, Amitha Gamage told the Daily News Business.

At present, all dealings are being carried out in Ratnapura and other areas in an informal manner and once the new gem tower is being built, the gem business will become more formalized and systematic, he said.

Discussions are now progressing with Germany's Idar- Oberstein city authorities. Therefore, Ratnapura MC, Urban Development Authority, NGJA and other authorities are now working towards redesigning and building the gem center along with the beautifying of Ratnapura town to attract tourists into the area, Gamage said.

It is said that more than 325,000 miners, 895 gem exporters and 72,000 gem cutters are employed in the jewelry industry. Both the traditional methods which includes cutting by hands and the electronic methods of state of the art lapidaries are used for gem cutting and polishing.

Sri Lanka is today regarded as one of the fastest growing gem cutting market and finishing center in the world which produces highest international standards rating stones. Once the gem center is being set up anybody could test the quality of the gem with their modern equipment at a reasonable amount, he said.

United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland and Germany are major international markets for Sri Lankan gems. Sri Lankans wear the traditional jewelry that is handcrafted and its design is intricate. Simple and contemporary designs have been introduced to cope up with the demand of the international market like U.S, U.K and Canada which constitute its major international buyers.

According to National gems and Jewelry authority act, it is a punishable act to conduct any of the mentioned activities without getting a valid license cleared from the NGJA. NGJA has its regional offices functioning at Ratnapura,Matara , Naula, Monaragala, Eheliyagoda and Colombo regulate the above activities in respective regions.