Lanka's Sapphires most exquisite in the world

by Elmo Leonard

Sri Lanka's second international gem and jewellery exhibition, The Colombo Show 2006 ends today. It commenced Thursday last at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre.

Myanmar is well represented here, with many stalls displaying a wide range of gems and jewellery. At the opening, there were over 50 visitors here, from Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and India. The Myanmar stallholders bared their range of Rubies and Sapphires, which they said are unique. Their styles or designs of jewellery are different to Sri Lanka.

The guest of honour on the occasion, Don Kogen, said that his love for Sri Lanka's gemstones is because its Sapphires are the most exquisite in the world.

The hot pink Sapphire originating from Ratnapura is singular, he said. The corn blue Padparadschas is breathtaking. Kogan was very impressed with the quality, brilliance and fire of the island's coloured gemstones. Kogan is president, Global Merchandising and managing director of Thailand Gems TV Holdings Ltd.

Sri Lanka is home to the largest range of coloured gemstones in the world with 55 of over 200 known varieties. Sri Lanka's range of gemstones make up Blue Sapphires, Star Sapphires, Orange, Pink, Yellow Sapphires, Padparadschas, Cats Eyes, Chrysoberyls, Garnets, Moonstone and Aquamarine.

Kogan was very impressed with the improvements Sri Lanka had made in gemcutting in the recent past. The exhibition would bring recognition to the island's gem trade, he said. The Colombo Show is organised by Ceylinco Gem Corp International Ltd, under the Ceylinco umbrella. Chairman, Ceylinco Consolidated, Lalith Kotelawala said that he took up the challenge to stage the show, as an alternative to the 15th annual FACETS gem and jewellery shows, because he recognised the potential of this sector.

His dream is to add value to the gem sector from the gempit to cutting and polishing to exports. Kotelawala intended to take the Colombo Show to India, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. There had to be more gem trading in the region.

Head of the Chinese delegation Domonique Mock hoped to trade more with gemstones from Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, China and Taiwan, and with it, promote the island's coloured precious stones.

Minister of Investment Promotion, Rohitha Bogollagama said that following the recent removal of VAT on imports of gemstones the local industry is booming. Exports of gems, Sapphires, geudas and jewellery, diamonds and diamond jewellery had increased.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the chief guest said that Sri Lanka had acquired new technology for heat treating gemstones, which was not second to others in the world. It was government's intention also to help improve the lapidary and jewellery industries.