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by Elmo Leonard

The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) is pushing government to hasten its pledge to help in setting up a modern laboratory for the testing and accreditation of coloured precious stones produced here. "It is the dream of the genuine gem trader," SLGJA treasurer, Akram Mansoor said.

The move must be between the SLGJA, the government and a foreign collaborator, preferably, the American Gem Traders' Association New York (AGTA)

This long overdue move will afford foreign buyers the confidence to purchase coloured gemstones produced within the country and add value to Sri Lanka's gems and jewellery exports. The buyer will also be confident of the price he pays.

Such a laboratory, with technical assistance of the AGTA was planned over a decade ago. The agreement to this effect lapsed, two years, to-date, Mansoor said.

Such a lab would cost $1.5 million. It will make Sri Lanka a hub for testing coloured gemstones. At present, when called for, gem testing is done in Singapore or beyond at high cost to the exporter.

Towards raising the funds needed, six years ago, the SLGJA urged the government to authorise the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) to collect a cess of a quarter-of-one-percent on all gems and jewellery exported.

This move ended two months ago, with the accumulation of Rs 75,000 (rupees 102 to a US dollar). Two years ago, the then President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had pledged Rs 250 million towards setting up this gem accreditation centre.

Up to end July last year, Sri Lanka's exports of gems amounted to Rs 4,362.8 million (Rs. 100 to a US dollar). In 1995 Sri Lanka's exports of gems amounted to Rs 1,991 million.

Sri Lanka is the finest source of coloured precious stones, and counts 55 varieties of 140 known types. Today Sri Lanka is considered the fastest developing gem cutting and finishing centre in the world. Her main international markets are the United States, Japan, Hongkong, France, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, according to the NGJA.

Sri Lanka's gem and jewellery industry employs around 650,000 persons, including miners, cutters and polishers, dealers, jewellery designers, manufacturers and craftsmen, marketers, gemmologists and sales people. The breakdown is 325,000 miners, 72,000 gem cutters and 680 gem exporters. Methods of cutting and polishing comprise the traditional method of handcrafting and the electronic method of state-of-the-art lapidaries, according to the NGJA.

Mansoor said that the benefit of an up-to-date gem accrediting laboratory, with foreign collaboration would benefit the industry, from exporters to miners.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.