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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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FACETS 2003 : A gem of a display by KAREL ROBERTS RATNAWEERA The 13th glittering Gem and Jewellery Exhibition, FACETS 2003,opened at the Hilton Colombo on Monday the eighth and ended on Sunday the tenth,attracting thousands of local and foreign customers not only to buy but to see the stunning exhibits displayed in the best possible of settings, the Hilton's Grand Ballroom.
Eighty exhibitors an increase of 33 per cent on 2002 participated in this year's FACETS, Member of the Organising Committee FACETS 2003, Executive Director, Facets secretariat Co-ordinator, Sri Lanka Gems and Jewellery Association, M. Firoze Hassan told the Sunday Observer. A sum exceeding one thousand million rupees worth of exibits were on view for customers to take their pick after careful deliberations, of course. Sri Lankan blue sapphires were among the main attractions at this prime show. While most foreign buyers were from the United States, there were those from Australia, Honk Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and the South American State of Colombia. Glittering pink sapphires were a draw among viewers, contrasting with the rich blue 'traditional' sapphires for which Sri Lanka is world famous. The central jewel in the late Princess Diana's engagement ring was a Sri Lankan blue sapphire. Sri Lankan-born Mrs. Edith Wimalaratne who is from a traditional local jeweller family is based in Sydney, Australia where she has been running a very successful jewellery establishment for several years. She is a regular exhibitor at FACETS. However, she told the Sunday Observer that business is down in Australia because of the state of the world economy which was thrown into disarray after the September 11 2001 attack on the New York World Trade Centre. Director of Universal Gems Ptv. Ltd. Sydney, she supplies pearls, Black Opals and precious gems to buyers from all parts of the world. The Wimalaratnes have been pearl and gem specialists since 1887. Her family's Australian heritage dates back to the natural pearling days of the world-renowned legendary pioneer T.B. Ellis of Broome, who arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka in the last century. His descendants, with generations of expertise in fine pearls and gems, continue to trade in Australia as Universal Gems with the assurance of quality to their clients worldwide.The Secretariat office of FACETS was a hive of activity with a busy Barbara Edrisinghe,Director, Edrina Limited, and always very helpful to journalists with information, was kept busy as she usually is during the days of this exhibition. Muslim jewellers who have been a highly respected community in Sri Lanka for centuries, with some of the most famous names in the business, were among the main exhibitors at FACETS as, of course were traditional Sinhalese jewellers with equally well-known names. In her message on the occasion of FACETS, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said that she was pleased to note how our craftsmen have mastered the intricacies of modern jewellery leading to a highly developed and thriving industry in the export of manufactured jewellery. She said that the industry has to be protected and supported by the State and non-State parties. In his Message, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the government had recently decided to declare the 'Blue Sapphire' as the official precious stone of the country. He said that an exhibition of this nature helps in focusing the attention of the international trade on the immense opportunities for profit available to them when doing business in Sri Lanka. Chairman, National Gem and Jewellery Authority, T. Rusiripala said that FACETS 2003 is taking place during a period when the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Industry is going through dramatic changes. He said that the exhibition was a landmark event of this era. The first ever Web Portal for the gem and jewellery industry, 'lankajewels.com' was launched on April 24 this year. In his message Chairman, Sri Lanka Export Development Board R. Sivaratnam said that in addition to the web portal, a comprehensive promotional campaign will also be undertaken to target markets. Chairman, FACETS organising Committee, Macky Hashim said that now is the right time to expand the annual FACETS show. He said that the organisers are hopeful that there will be a further inrease of 30 per cent in the Exhibition capacity next year, with gradual increases in years to come. He also said that Sri Lanka is now identified globally as the 'source country' for the sapphire family of gemstones and other known varieties. Chairman, Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Rainier S. Nanayakkara said that buyers and sellers have now realised that FACETS brings an interaction which is mutually beneficial. He said that the government is giving its fullest support to the Gem and Jewellery Association to put the industry on par with the other gem capitals of the world. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Under tight security plain-clothes detectives mingled with uniformed
Army and private security personnel the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery
Association's showpiece annual exhibition glittered and sparkled for three
whole days under the eyes of hawkish buyers from all parts of the world as
well as amateur local gem and jewellery aesthetes who were revelling in
the richness of the beauty of precious gemstones and jewellery on display.
