CGJTA announces highly anticipated Gem Sri Lanka trade fair in January 2024

Event was graced by Primary Industries State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne, National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Viraj De Silva, Export Development Board Chairman Dr. Kingsley Bernard, National Chamber of Exporters Secretary General/CEO Shiham Marikar, Guild Institute of Gemology President Andy Lucas and many other dignitaries 
PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA

The Chinafort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA) this week unveiled Gem Sri Lanka (GSL) at a press conference at Shangri-La, Colombo, marking the launch of a world-class inaugural trade exhibition to highlight Sri Lanka’s vast and precious gemstones to the world.
The event paves the way to shed light on Sri Lanka’s immense potential for growth in the gemstone trade, as the country’s availability of timeless and rare natural stones is yet to be fully realised.

The press event was organised by the CGJTA and was attended by local media as well as dignitaries and representatives from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka (NGJA), Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) as well as the management committee of the trade exhibition GSL, which will take place from January 11-13, 2024, at Cinnamon Bentota Beach Resort’.

Commenting at the event, GSL Chairman Hilmy Cassim stated, “We are excited to launch GSL, the platform to introduce and expose our young talent to the international market, whereby we connect the source to the world. GSL is fully endorsed by the NGJA and EDB. There is no doubt that this gem show will serve as the centre stage for Sri Lanka to garner the much-needed high-value attention from the world over in this sector.”

He also stated that GSL will assist in uplifting the country’s economy by contributing to its growth, as lesser exposed international markets will find the Sri Lankan gems to be very lucrative, which may see an increase in foreign transactions and major local transactions for Sri Lankan gem purchases from international buyers.
The CGJTA is the largest association for gem trade in Sri Lanka, with over 2,000 members islandwide and the sole custodians of the oldest and largest open air gem market in the world – The Chinafort Beruwala Gem Market.
The dates for GSL 2025 were also announced and it will be held from January 4-6, 2025.