PM Harini Amarasuriya says that although Sri Lanka has already gained international recognition for gems and jewellery, exports have not grown to the expected level.
The Prime Minister said that the government is working to establish stable policies to enable the country to capture the international gem and jewellery market.
She made these remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of Gem City Ratnapura – 2025, an International Gem and Jewellery Exhibition aimed at taking Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry to the global stage.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Gem City Ratnapura – 2025 event will be held on 15, 16 and 17th August at the Grand Silveray Hotel, Pelmadulla.
The exhibition is organized by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority with the aim of seeking the position of Sri Lanka among the world’s leading gem and jewellery markets alongside showcasing a wide variety of gemstones, gem and jewellery mining and processing techniques, laboratory services, as well as training and educational opportunities in the sector.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, PM Harini Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka thrives worldwide for its gems, and a significant portion of these are found in the Ratnapura District.
“However, we must question whether Ratnapura has truly received the recognition it deserves. The contribution made to the national economy by exporting high-quality gems from Ratnapura’s gem industry is considerable. Yet, we have still not reached the maximum potential export income from the gem and jewellery sector. Inconsistent policies have hindered the growth of this industry. The government is committed to establishing the necessary stable policies to achieve the industry’s ambitious export revenue goals. I extend my gratitude to the representatives from the United States, India, China, Switzerland, Thailand, and Pakistan for participating in this exhibition. I also invite them, and others who place trust in our national policies, to continue joining us in advancing gem and jewellery exports,” she said.
Addressing the event, Minister of Industry and Enterprise Development, Sunil Handunneththi, said a range of new policies, such as developing the diamond sector and introducing new laws to allow the direct export of rough gemstones, are already being prepared to help the gem and jewellery sector reach the challenging target of USD 1 billion in expected export revenue.
The event also saw the launch of Sri Lanka’s first government-owned gem and jewellery trade website, www.gemcityratnapura.com, equipped with the latest GovPay facility. (Newswire)