The entire Sri Lankan gems and jewellery industry employs approximately 650, 000 persons including miners, cutters, polishers, dealers, jewellery designers, manufacturers, craftsmen, marketers, gemmologists and sales people.
The gems industry employs around 325,000 miners, 72,000 gem cutters and 895 gem exporters. Methods of gem cutting and polishing comprise both the traditional method of hand cutting and the electronic methods of state of the art lapidaries.
Today Sri Lanka is considered as the fastest developing gem cutting and finishing centre in the world, producing stones that meet the highest international standards. The main international markets for the Sri Lankan gems are United States, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Today approximately 25,000 men and women are employed in Sri Lanka’s jewellery manufacturing industry. Traditional jewellery worn by Sri Lankans is handcrafted and intricately designed. However to meet the demands of the international market, simple and contemporary designs have been introduced. Major international buyers of Sri Lankan jewellery are United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.
Licence Issued by the National gems and Jewellery authority (NGJA) Sri Lanka
According to the NGJA act, it is punishable offence to conduct following activities without a valid licence issued by the NGJA.
1. Gem mining
2. Gem cutting and polishing
3. Gem trading
4. Gem auctions
The regional offices of the NGJA functioning in Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Naula, Monaragala, Matara and Colombo regulate the above activities in respective regions. Apart from these, enforcement offices are maintained at Nivitigala, Pelmadulla, Embilipitiya, Lunugala, Akuresse, Rakwana, Horana and Norwood.
Gem Testing Laboratory
The gem testing laboratory of NGJA which was established in 1972 was entrusted with the task of issuing gem testing reports, thereby gaining confidence and integrity in international gem trade. Presently the laboratory is staffed by foreign trained gemmologists who have obtained internationally accepted professional qualifications.
The laboratory provides a free gem testing service to foreigners and issues gem testing reports at a normal fee of about 860 Sri Lankan rupees. In addition to this, a gemstone memo is issued specifying the authenticity of the gemstone at the cost of about 300 Sri Lankan rupees. These services are provided at laboratories functioning at the NGJA Colombo office. Head office at Ratnapura. Arrangements are made to issue a gem testing report incorporating an image of the gemstone at the cost of nearly 1,800 rupees. A free gem testing service is provided for foreigners at the NGJA laboratory in the gem exchange located at the world trade centre, Colombo and Ratnapura.
