Foreigners categorically have no authorisation to engage in gemstone mining in Sri Lanka

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman and Chief Executive Officer denouncing erroneous articles published in several newspapers has insistently stated that no permission nor authorisation has ever been granted to foreign nationals or foreign institutions to conduct gemstone auctions or activities of a similar nature in Sri Lanka. 

He further emphasised that aforesaid non-nationals both corporate and individual are only permitted to conduct industrial ‘Value Addition’ through service cutting and the manufacturing of jewellery from imported consignments as a commercial activity. They are however, disallowed from the gathering, collection and purchasing of rough gemstones for the purpose of gemstone auctions. 

Additionally Welagedara highlighted and stressed that meanwhile the industrial ‘Value Addition’ process was moderately permitted as it importantly yielded the invaluable benefits of knowledge transfer and technological updates whilst the commercial activity was particularly limited to the production of jewellery, faceting and polishing of rough diamonds.