Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry has welcomed a new government Gazette as a watershed reform aimed at breaking longstanding bottlenecks and fuelling global competitiveness.

Unlocking Rough Gem Access via New Procedures

The Gazette introduces a streamlined procedure for importing rough gemstones—historically, a cumbersome blockade hindering the industry’s raw material access. By enhancing transparency and aligning import processes with global trading hubs, Sri Lanka aims to inject fresh momentum into its gem value chain.

Sector Poised for Export Surge

Current export data underscores the reform’s timely relevance. In the first five months of 2025, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports grew by 5.5%, totaling US $5.34 billion, contributing to an overall export rebound of 7.1% to US $6.93 billion

 Within the government’s broader export strategy, gems and jewellery are slated to contribute US $650 million toward the US $18.2 billion 2025 export target

.However, the National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA) notes that only around US $360 million—a fraction of potential earnings—is currently captured via formal channels; the remaining 90% of gem exports still flow through informal routes . The formalization push aims to increase traceability, tax contributions, and value capture.

Tackling Industry Bottlenecks and Structural Challenges

Beyond raw material access, the industry faces other headwinds. Parliamentary discussions from 2023 flagged delays in securing mining permits, an obstructive licensing process, and constraints caused by the gold import ban—especially impacting jewellery businesses serving tourism markets

Policy recommendations emerging from these discussions include issuing licenses through consolidated, weekly regional one-stop centres, revisiting the gold import ban to support foreign exchange–earning exporters, and scaling up skill development via localized training institutes to counter low industry entry.

Regulatory Framework: Formal Oversight and Licensing

Formal gem exports are tightly regulated. Exporters must obtain a valid Gem Dealers License from the NGJA—each tied to specific stock values—and process shipments via designated NGJA centres at Bandaranaike International Airport (Katunayake) or Rathnapura, under Customs supervision

. Documentation is intensive: original typed invoices on official letterhead, explicit inclusion of NGJA license and file numbers, and clear FOB valuation are mandatory

Other requirements include multiple invoice copies distributed across various authorities, service fee waivers for exhibition-bound goods (with a Rs 15,000 deposit and 0.25% service levy for returns), and collateral-based waivers for consignment exports

Industry Response and Forward Path

The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) applauded the Gazette as a “milestone moment,” praising the collaborative work of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Minister Sunil Handunneththi, NGJA, the Export Development Board, and the ministry secretaries. They see the reforms as not only export catalysts but also as tools to attract investment and drive sustainable growth across the value chain.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s gem industry is now at a turning point. With rough-gem import barriers easing, formalization ramping up, and regulatory clarity improving, the sector is well-positioned to reclaim its place as a key contributor to the nation’s export ambition. The challenge now lies in swift execution, capacity expansion, and ensuring that value creation is fully captured within the island’s shores.

Singapore-based X-Press Feeders has strongly criticised the Sri Lankan Supreme Court’s order to pay $1 billion within a year over the 2021 X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, calling it a breach of due process that scapegoats its crew and sets a dangerous precedent for global shipping.

The company accused the court of effectively convicting the vessel’s master and local agents before trials have concluded — in some cases before charges have even been filed. It noted that the master has been stranded in Sri Lanka for four-and-a-half years under a travel ban, separated from his family and unable to work despite offering to post the maximum fine possible.

X-Press Feeders argued that it was given no chance to respond to allegations in court, while the ruling ignored serious failings by Sri Lankan authorities. These included official inspections just days before the fire that raised “no alarm” and the refusal of ports in Qatar, India, and Sri Lanka to offload the leaking container before the blaze. The court itself acknowledged that the Marine Environment Protection Authority’s then-chair failed to order the vessel offshore, a move the operator says could have minimised damage, yet assigned no liability.

The X-Press Pearl, a 2,700-TEU feeder vessel, sank off Colombo in June 2021 after a fire broke out in a container carrying leaking nitric acid. The incident triggered Sri Lanka’s worst-ever marine pollution disaster, spilling hundreds of tonnes of plastic pellets onto beaches. X-Press Feeders says it has already paid over $150 million for wreck removal, plastic pellet clean-up, and compensation to fishermen.

The company warns that the $1bn order — one of the largest interim compensation awards in maritime history — could drive up shipping costs for Sri Lankan trade. It is now urging authorities to adopt “rational decision-making” that balances environmental restoration with the country’s economic needs.

A review of the 2025 budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with initial discussions on the 2026 budget proposals, was held this morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The meeting examined the 2025 allocations to eight institutions under the Ministry and assessed the progress of ongoing projects. President Dissanayake noted that while the previous budget provided adequate funding, there has been dissatisfaction over the proper utilisation of these funds. He stressed that budgetary provisions must be fully spent within the financial year to deliver tangible benefits to the public.

For 2026, the President called for proposals aimed at building a strong sports culture, improving sports infrastructure, identifying athletes with international potential, and elevating them to global competition. He emphasised that investments in sports serve broader purposes, including health improvement, crime reduction, drug prevention, social cohesion, and workforce development.

Highlighting the role of training and technology, the President urged the Ministry to provide athletes with advanced resources. He also instructed officials to expedite renovations at the Sugathadasa Stadium and other sports complexes across the country, employ experts for specialised infrastructure work, and seek international consultancy services.

School sports development was also prioritised, with the President expressing readiness to allocate necessary funds. He further instructed ministry officials to prepare an integrated national plan for sports development.

The meeting also discussed youth-focused programmes inspired by the 2025 National Youth Conference.

The event was attended by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other senior ministry officials.

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against a prominent young activist of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for allegedly creating and circulating an AI-generated defamatory video targeting Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.

According to the complaint, an individual operating under the name Mujahid Haafiz, via a Facebook account, released a fabricated video that used the Minister’s image, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) background, and artificial intelligence technology to produce misleading content. The video is alleged to have been deliberately edited with the intent to tarnish the reputations of Minister Herath, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the JVP.

Minister Herath’s Coordinating Secretary, Chaminda Jayantha, filed the complaint yesterday (15), urging the CID to launch an immediate investigation and take legal action against the person responsible for releasing the defamatory material.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts. A few showers may occur in North-western province.
Mainly fair weather will prevail over the other areas of the island.

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte has passed away at the age of 57.

According to reports, he was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo due to an illness when he passed away.