Gem, diamond and jewellery export earnings in 2009 amounted to a massive Rs 45 billion exceeding the estimated target according to National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman  Chief Executive Officer Hasitha Tillekeratne.

A number of steps were taken under Mahinda Chintana to develop the gem industry and efforts taken to find new markets helped to prevent the Sri Lanka’s gem industry being adversely affected by the global recession resulting in the collapse of markets in Europe, Japan and the USA.

The new markets for Sri Lankan gems are in India, China, Russia, Turkey, Taiwan and Oman.  The national budgets for the past two years granted a number of dividends thus ensuring the industry’s stability.

In addition to helping the business community, steps have been taken to raise the living standards of traditional gem prospectors, introduce them to new technology, minimize accidents and give maximum compensation to accident victims.

The highest record of gem land auctions were held last year to provide lands for mining while projects were launched to protect infertile State lands where gem deposits are yet to be identified.

Plans have been drawn up to search for gems from the river beds of Mahaweli, Kalu Ganga and other major rivers through environmentally-friendly techniques, says the NGJA Chairman. He recalls that the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court dismissed cases filed by some Non-Governmental Organizations against the NGJA’s plans.

He expressed regret that certain media organizations which gave big publicity to the NGO allegations failed to report the courts dismissing their cases.

He assures that all steps have been taken to minimize environmental damage and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority had detected and foiled a number of instances of unauthorized gem mining.