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Fifty years of diplomatic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka are celebrated in Japan this year with a series of events. The first was a Sri Lankan gem and jewellery display at the 13th International Jewellery Tokyo Show (IJT) held recently.

The participation of Sri Lankan exporters at this event was organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board for the 12th consecutive year with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tokyo.

Around thousand companies from 35 countries displayed their products at the IJT this year, which serves as an exhibition for active business transactions of gems and jewellery.

Despite the recession in the Japanese economy, Sri Lankan gem and jewellery exporters and the government had decided to promote sales aggressively in the Japanese market. The number of Sri Lankan companies had increased to nine in 2002 from five participants in 2001.

The Sri Lanka pavilion was declared open by the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Japan, Karunatilaka Ammunugama, Chairman Japan Jewellery Association, Kisaburo Masaki, Chairman Japan Jewellery Designers Association, Mirou Miki and Director International Coloured Gem Stones Association Akira Itoh. Sri Lanka's exports of gems and jewellery to Japan has increased from Rs. 760 million in 1998 to over a billion rupees in 2001 despite the prevailing economic slowdown in Japan, Mr. Amunugama said.

He invited the gathering to visit the 'Colours of Lanka' gem and jewellery and fashion show to be held in Japan in October.

Mr. Masaki said that he was confident of the Japanese economy improving in the future and with this the further improvel of the share of Sri Lanka's gem and jewellery in the Japanese market. The jewellery collection presented by Sri Lanka at this event was based on market research and reports obtained from the Japanese market, which indicated an interest in imported jewellery.

A special collection of silver jewellery mounted with a variety of coloured gemstones was exhibited targeting the younger generation. Eighteen karat, white gold and platinum jewellery mounted with a wide variety of sapphires was an added attraction. The Sri Lanka pavilion also gave an opportunity to the japanese jewellery manufactures to view a collection of calibrated and free size gemstones.

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