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New survey of gem deposits in Sri Lanka
By Quintus Perera
Sri Lankan authorities are carrying out a new survey of all gem deposits in the country which would be completed in a few months, industry officials said.

"This would provide the industry the information of the strength of the deposits in the country," said Rainer Nanayakkara, President of the newly amalgamated Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA).

Nanayakkara, referring to attempts at gem mining by foreigners, said the natural resources of a country belongs to the people of that country and these resources shouldn't be exploited by foreigners.

He was speaking to The Sunday Times on the formation of the new association which is a combination of the Sri Lanka Lapidarist Association, Sri Lanka Jewellery Manufacturers, Gem Exports Association, Sri Lanka Gem and Jeweller Merchants' Federation and Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association.

Referring to reports of a committee being appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to look into the controversial mining of rivers for gems, he said opinion was divided on this matter in the industry with some opposed to mining of rivers and others in favour of it.

Nanayakkara said the new amalgamated body would enable the industry to speak with one voice and exert some force in winning essential demands. With the setting up of one single body, five major committees were set up with a head to study different aspects of the industry for gems, jewellery, training, lapidary, marketing and promotion and a gemology laboratory.

He said that they have tied up with the American Gem Traders' Association (AGTA), which has the best gem-testing laboratory in the world with the two parties signing an agreement in New York few months ago to set u p a gem laboratory in Sri Lanka.
When asked if rough gems being imported would affect the image of Sri Lanka as a country producing the best gems, Nanayakkara said that unlike before the country did not find gems in abundance and therefore for the industry to proceed without interruption, raw material or gemstones had to be imported.

He cited the example of Thailand which does not produce any gems but has become the gem capital in the world, importing from other countries and treating, polishing and selling them. "This is an example we would like to follow."

Ceylinco Life reports record premium income in 2002
Ceylinco Life, the private sector's biggest insurance company, has embarked on its second decade of leadership with another sector-leading performance in 2002, ending the year with a record Rs. 2.360 billion in premium income.

Figures released last week show that the company continued to outperform its closest rival by more than Rs. 500 million in terms of premium income, while its Life Fund grew to Rs. 6.8 billion at year's end, making it more than a billion rupees bigger than that of the second placed insurer in the sector. The growth of its Life Fund from Rs. 5.2 billion at the end of 2001 to Rs. 6.8 billion as at December 31, 2002, an increase of 31 percent, underlines the strength and stability of Ceylinco Life, Ceylinco Life Director/General Manager R. Renganathan said. Ceylinco Insurance Co. Ltd's premium income for the year consolidated with that of its General Division represents a total insurance premium of Rs. 4.9 billion, the company said.

The company opened five new branches in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Kantalai, increasing Ceylinco Life's branch network to 78.

Apollo opens first info centre in Kandy
To provide residents in Kandy better access to services available at Apollo Hospitals Colombo, the hospital opened its first Information Centre in Kandy.

The Kandy Information Centre is the first to be opened in Sri Lanka that falls directly under the control and supervision of Apollo Hospitals, Colombo. The centre is located at Ground Floor, Dhanasiri Shopping Complex, No. 679 Peradeniya Road, Kandy.

Since opening its doors in June 2002, Apollo Hospitals Colombo has received many people in need of its services from Kandy and surrounding areas. The Centre in Kandy is established to serve the doctors, whom Apollo says it values tremendously as partners in providing healthcare, as also the public who may need Apollo's world-class healthcare.

SLPA orders cranes for Unity Container Terminal
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has placed orders for three gantry cranes and eight transfer cranes for the Unity Container Terminal, formerly the oil berth, which is mainly used by feeder vessels.

This equipment, which will cost Rs. 1.7 billion and is to be delivered in 14 months, will enhance Colombo Port's container handling capacity by around 400,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) a year. The SLPA has signed a contract for the supply of these cranes with Itochu Corporation of Japan. The three container cranes are to be built by Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries and the eight transfer cranes by Sumitomo Heavy Industries.

John Keells opens Kurunegala e-Studio
The John Keells Office Automation (JKOA), while strengthening their presence in the North Western Province, recently launched a regional product promotion in Kurunegala.

The main event during this promotion was the introduction of the most cost effective Toshiba e-Studio Digital Network Solution to this market, the company said.

JKOA is a fully owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka's premier blue chip diversified conglomerate, John Keells Holdings.

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