As technological advances create new techniques
with intriguing and baffling results in the gem industry,
researchers as well as traders and customers are looking at ways
and means of guaranteeing and ensuring the
authenticity of the gem they deal with.

New technology has resulted in the production
of new synthetic stones and stimulants very difficult
to be identified from the natural and the original.
In addition there are several advanced enhancement methods commonly
applied in the industry such as heart treatment and irradiation
to improve gem color and the wide use of resins and
polymer to conceal natural flaws and increase clarity.

Some of these techniques have created a great degree
of confusion in the markets so that even scientists have had
divergent opinions in certain instances. As a result there is a
growing need for continued research as well as authentic sources
for guaranteeing the true of a gemstone and consequently its value.

Sri Lanka being a major gem producing country and widely
acknowledge with world over for special qualities is facing a serious
marketing problem in this context. There are only a few reputed laboratories
in the world witch offer their expertise to members of the gemstone
and jewellery trade as well as to prevent individual.

All such facilities however are available in either Europe or USA
and for local gem dealers and the industry this is a tedious,
costly and time-consuming exercise.

Trade association and market leaders have urged government to
provide a lab facility in Sri Lanka. A few years back the initiative was
taken to build a fund to wards this objective with contributions from exporters
collected by the National Gem and jewellery Authority.

To date all gem exporters are making a contribution / levy of 0.25% of the export
value to a special lab fund. Nearly Rs50 Million has been collected so far
and the fund continues to grow with more exporters.

In 2002, the them minister in charge of the NGJA initiated a MOU
with the gem- testing laboratory of the American Gem Traders Association in USA.
A payment was made out of this special lab fund amounting to about $65,000 in
consideration of a interim arrangement to facilitate
gem testing pending the setting up of a lab here.

The proposal however did not materialize and the subject remains dormant.
Even a promise by a previous government for financial assistance from
the government to set up a lab has not been fulfilled.
The only authentic lab facility the country has is the one operated by the NGJA.
This is however in the context of developments
in gemology not up to accepted international standard.
Gemstone reports have become an integral part of the gem market.
Although earlier this area was confined to the professionals,
at present more and more customers in all parts of the
world are becoming aware of the need foe authenticating gems.

The modern gem report is not merely an identification report.
In its comprehensive nature it constitutes a guarantee for the
authenticity of a gem. Such a facility is becoming a daily requirement in the market.

A recent controversy that developed in the global scenario
regarding the heart treatment practices for sapphires followed in
Sri Lanka ended up with all leading laboratories in the world jointly
engaged in a research programme which is still continuing.

All these factors point to wards a great need for
a high standard laboratory for Sri Lanka.
We have eminent scientists and a dynamic private sector.
We have already built up a fund that will continue to grow.
We have the right background to collect research data.

The time is right for Sri Lanka to have its own laboratory
and one of the ways is to get the NGJA to provide funds for the settings
up of a lab pending the collection of the amount later.
The other option is for the private sector to float a public
Limited Liability Company for this purpose.

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