Monday, 26 August 2013 00:00
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The stage is set for the latest edition of FACETS Sri Lanka 2013, the international gem and jewellery exhibition organised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for the 23rd year. This year’s event will be held from 29 August to 1 September at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. The event will be attended by over 150 stall holders including individual exhibitor pavilions from Myanmar, The National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and an SME pavilion from the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). In addition, buyer delegations from USA, China, Russia, Thailand, Iran and India will also be arriving. Stall holders from Singapore, Dubai, Myanmar and India will be participating at the event too.
Gracing the opening ceremony of the FACETS Sri Lanka 2013 exhibition will be Chief Guest Minister of International Monetary Corporation and Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Guest of Honour Ruben Bindra from USA, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy Susil Premajayantha, Deputy Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy A.R.M. Abdul Cader and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.
Speaking about the final preparations for the event, FACETS Sri Lanka 2013 Chairman Juzar Adamaly said: “Everything is now ready for Sri Lanka to host this highly-anticipated event. We have held successful meetings with the booth holders, Government officials from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Airport and Aviation Services, Dept. of Exchange Control, Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lankan Airlines, members of the SLGJA and the NGJA. They all gave their consent to provide the fullest support and cooperation to stage a successful event.” He added that a special Temporary Importation Bond was also successfully signed between SLGJA and Sri Lanka Customs.
After the remarkable success in recent years, the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) once again held the jewellery design competition, this time titled “The Jewellery Design Competition 2013”, to mark the start of the FACETS Sri Lanka 2013. The theme of the competition this year is “The story of the wind” – a celebration of one of the five forces of nature.
Explaining the background to the competition, Adamaly stated: “The objectives of the competition are to identify and recognise the capabilities of talented jewellery designers throughout Sri Lanka and to emphasise the increasing importance of world class design trends towards Sri Lanka’s goal of becoming a significant jewellery producer and exporter in the Asian region. This year altogether there were 148 designs submitted by 51 designers. The hosting of this competition also provides a good opportunity for jewellers to showcase their creative capabilities and their commitment to produce world class jewellery designs.”
A competition was also held to promote and upgrade the cutting and lapidary industry in Sri Lanka to be in par with the required export quality. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association Ziqufi Ismail said: “We have successfully organised the competition for the last three years and we see a growth of export orders coming to Sri Lanka, because of the competitions held to help the cutters to be the best. This year the NGJA has sponsored the awards for six winners out of the two categories within the competition. The awards will be presented at the opening ceremony at FACETS Sri Lanka 2013. A large number of applications were received from the industry and students who are interested to join the field of lapidary. As the organisers we are very encouraged to see such enthusiasm this year.”
The elite panel of judges comprising leaders with vast experience in their respective fields will choose the nine final designs. The panel includes Hi! Magazine Editor Shyamalee Tudawe, Ellawala Exports Director Chanaka Ellawala, Senior Lecturer, Department of Integrated Design University of Moratuwa Hiranthi Pathirana and Colombo Fashion Week President Ajai Vir Singh.
