Sri Lanka fast becoming a global hub for Sapphires
Checking out a necklace. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
Sri Lanka, against Bangkok, is on the threshold of becoming the hub of Sapphires in the world with the Facets – Sri Lanka International Gem & Jewellery Show (SLIGJS) being one of the leading Gem and Jewellery dealers meeting place in the world.The 4-day SLIGJS show took off on Thursday at the BMICH with a large number of prospective buyers from various countries. Some of them were seen looking, touching, and having a careful and close examination of expensive gems before purchasing them.
At the opening ceremony where Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister of Monetary Cooperation and Deputy Minister of Finance was the Chief Guest. Macky Hashim one of the doyens of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) who has been actively involved in the affairs of the association almost for the last three decades was felicitated and presented with a token of appreciation by Dr. Amunugama.
Another leading memberof the Association, Chanaka Ellawala told the Business Times (BT) that like Rome was not built in one day, all the stakeholders of this now thriving industry had to relentlessly work hard for SLGJA to come up to a commanding level in the international arena.
He said that a few years ago, Bangkok was seen as the international centre for Sapphires, for which Sri Lanka is reputed for. Today, he said that Sri Lanka is almost there to be the international hub for Sapphires.
Mr. Ellawala said that since the 1970s there were four separate associations viz Sri Lanka Gem Traders Association; Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Federation; Jewellery Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Lapidary Association. In 2002, they all amalgamated into SLGJA.
Mr. Ellawala said that to make Sri Lanka the hub to maintain that position the free movement of people and goods should be ensured. They have been, he said, reminding the government this fact.
He said that the government has imposed a 10 per cent tax on gold imports and 7 per cent tax on finished jewellery and such moves tend to push the industry backwards.
There were highly priced gems on show at the Ellawala Exports stall with a 23 carat Blue Sapphire priced at more than half a million dollars. At the Zam Gems stall, a Chinese visitor Ms Liu Wenjia was seen inspecting some expensive gems – a Ruby priced at US$30,000 and a Blue Sapphire priced at $45,000. In fact Zam Gems had in their possession one of the most expensive gems – an Alexandrite worth a few millions of dollars which was sold to the King of Qatar last February.
The BT also met Sheahan R. Stephen, a leading gem merchant from Portland, Oregon in the US and his wife Einas Gerges and they were looking at some Sapphires at Ruby and Sapphires (Pvt) Ltd stall. While his wife was inspecting the gems, Mr Stephen told the BT that they are looking for genuine ‘stones’ for their Sheahan Stephen Sapphires Inc company to be marketed there. He said that they looking for $100,000 worth of gems to be purchased outright.
This year there were buyers from China, Russia, India, USA, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, UK, Norway and Pakistan and traders from several countries put up stalls at this show.
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