BIZ

No support from tourism authorities to SL’s largest gem exhibition!

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2023

editor

The 30th edition of FACETS Sri Lanka, Asia’s premier gem and jewellery exhibition organised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) in partnership with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and the Export Development Board (EDB) will be held in Colombo next year.

It will be held at the Atrium Lobby of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel from January 06 – 08, 2024.

The SLGJA, formed in 2002, is the apex body for the gem and jewellery industry in Sri Lanka and represents all subsectors of the trade.

Over the years, FACETS Sri Lanka has become an important event in the international gem and jewellery calendar. This year too, it will serve as a much looked-forward meeting point for the global gem and jewellery sector, attracting prominent traders, gemstone and jewellery wholesalers, exporters, manufacturers, lapidarists, retailers, and collectors from across the globe.

A press conference was held in Colombo on October 03 to elaborate on the event.

FACETS Sri Lanka Chairman – Mr. Altaf Iqbal, SLGJA Board Member – Mr. Saman Amarasena, NGJA Chairman – Mr. Viraj De Silva, EDB Chairman – Dr. Kingsley Barnard, General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Hotel – Mr. Kamal Munasinghe and Mr. Rizan Nazeer, the Chairman of Local Promotion Committee of NGJA attended the press conference.

No support from tourism authorities!
FACETS Sri Lanka President Altaf Iqbal, who attended the event, shared his views on the upcoming exhibition and new features of FACETS Sri Lanka 2024, including the newly added Sustainability Pavilion and Sapphire Design Pavilion.

He added that the Ministry of Tourism and other authorities were informed about this exhibition, which can be promoted successfully among tourists. However, it is regrettable that they have not given any support to this exhibition, he said.

Many new features and booths
There will be a host of new additions to the show, such as the Sustainable Pavilion and the Sapphire Masterpiece Pavilion.

There will be several Pavilions showcased at FACETS Sri Lanka 2024 including the Premier Gem Pavilion, Premier Jewellery Pavilion, Sustainable Pavilion, Sapphire Masterpiece Pavilion, Rough Stone Pavilion, Gem Lab Pavilion, NGJA SME Pavilion, and the SLGJA Gem and Jewellery Pavilion. The event will also feature a special ‘Reminisce of the Past’ Event.

The Premier Gem Pavilion has been a part of FACETS Sri Lanka since its inception.

It will consist of leading Sri Lankan gem dealers who have been a part of FACETS Sri Lanka over an extended period of time, showcasing their gems for sale. The Premier Jewellery Pavilion will consist of prominent local jewellers, displaying their gems and finely crafted jewellery.

The Sustainable Pavilion is a first for FACETS Sri Lanka and will present the historical evolution of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector, along with its sustainability-related methods and approaches. It will also display the 2300-year history of the Sri Lankan gem trade from mine to market.

The Sapphire Masterpiece Pavilion, which is another first in Sri Lanka, will display large, precious stones, and will be on sale on the final day of the show. The Rough Stone Pavilion will feature and display rough stones from all sourcing countries of the world.

The Premier Gem Lab Pavilion brings together leading local and international gem labs together under one roof. The NGJA SME Pavilion will offer selected SMEs from across the country to showcase their gems and jewellery. The SLGJA Gem and Jewellery Pavilion will showcase gem and jewellery stalls from SLGJA members.

The ‘Reminisce of the Past’ event will feature a variety of speakers including senior gem and jewellery merchants who will speak about a variety of topics including how business was conducted in the past, and how the industry has evolved from the early years of humble beginnings, to what it is today.

BIZ

Minister warns to impose MRP on salt

Published

51 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

editor

Minister of Trade – Wasantha Samarasinghe has warned that the government will be forced to introduce a Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for salt by this week, if importers attempt to sell imported salt at higher prices.

Speaking at a media briefing, he said that a kilo of imported salt will cost Rs. 77, along with the 40% tax imposed by the government.

“Let’s say it has been priced at Rs. 80 a kilo. Then, wholesale traders are allowed to keep a profit of Rs. 10, 20, or 30. But not beyond this margin. However, if importers are trying to use this shortage to create a racket, then I would like to warn them not to engage in such activities. We will be forced to impose a Maximum Retail Price if this continues,” he added.

BIZ

CEAT assures job security following Michelin Lanka acquisition

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2025

editor

CEAT OHT Lanka (Pvt) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CEAT Limited, India, has reassured employees that their jobs are secure following the acquisition of the CAMSO brand’s off-highway construction equipment bias tyre and tracks business from Michelin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

The holding company, CEAT Ltd. of Mumbai, India, announced in December 2024 that a definitive agreement had been signed for the acquisition. This includes the Midigama plant. the Casting Product Division in Kotugoda and some parts of other divisions providing central services.

To formalize the transition, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on May 22, 2025, between CEAT OHT Lanka, Michelin Lanka, and the Inter Company Employees Union.

The agreement guarantees 100% job security, preservation of past service, seniority, remuneration, and employee benefits.

However, employees of Michelin Lanka in Midigama, Matara, recently protested claiming that their jobs were at risk due to the sale.

CEAT, operating in over 120 countries, emphasized its commitment to employee welfare and workplace satisfaction, affirming it will honor all obligations under the agreement and actively invest in business growth.

CEAT, listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange and part of the RPG Group, is a leading manufacturer of tyres for cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, and off-highway vehicles.

CEAT had previously acquired Kelani Tyres, a fully state-owned enterprise in 1993, which was considered as a controversial deal facilitated by Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Related News :

Employees concerned as CEAT takes over Michelin Lanka

BIZ

All necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in SL competed – Dy. Minister

Published

3 days ago

June 2, 2025

editor

The government has completed all necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in Sri Lanka, says Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne.

According to Deputy Minister Weeraratne, once the expected information dashboard is received from Starlink, the service could be launched without any operational delays.

He made this statement while attending a bilateral meeting organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore, held alongside the 2025 Tech Summit Asia in Singapore.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne and Ambassador Stephan Lang, the United States’ Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State.

During the meeting, several strategic areas were also discussed.

Ambassador Lang emphasized the importance and urgency of these initiatives, describing them as both challenging and essential for Sri Lanka’s digital future. He reiterated the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in implementing these transformative digital policies and programs.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)