Photo above: Hasitha Tillekeratne, Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (right) handing over a cheque for Rs 92.49 million to Sheriff Rahuman (left) Director Lanka Gemmological Laboratory Private Limited.
Sri Lanka is set to start a fully equipped state of the art gemmological laboratory in accordance with international standards. The laboratory is to be formed jointly with the state and private sector.The initial funding of Rs 92.49 million (Sri Lankan Rupee) is from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. This money was collected from a fund which was derived from 0.25% of the value of gems exported from Sri Lanka since 2001
The laboratory will be registered as “Lanka Gemmological Laboratory Private Ltd”(LGLP). Hasitha Tillekeratne, Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) was also elected as the chairman of LGLP. This laboratory will enabel the identification of heat treated and rare gemstones.
The establishment of this laboratory will help in saving foreign exchange by local gem dealers and exporters. Presently rare gemstones and heat treated gemstones are sent to laboratories in Thailand.
The Chairman of the NGJA requested all gem traders to cooperate so as to ensure that the laboratory will meet international standards.
Countries such as Germany, Switzerland, United States, Japan and Thailand already have such laboratories with modern facilities.
