Despite the current
worldwide economic recession Sri Lanka has been successful in earning a
record income of Rs. 54.44 billion up to November 2008, even more than the
total income of Rs.51.88 billion for 2007 – which was that year’s highest
national income from exports, according to National Gem and Jewellery
Authority Chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne. Due to favourable conditions
for gem and jewellery exports the total value of gem and jewellery exports
and diamond re-exports, diamond jewellery and gueda exports was Rs. 47,024
million up to November 2007 while the export value during the
corresponding period of 2008 was Rs.54,446 million. The Chairman
calls this success rate very significant in the context of the prevailing
global economic recession.
Under the Mahinda Chintana policy the export income target for 2011 is
expected to reach U.S. dollars one billion, observes Chairman Tillekeratne
who attributes the present success to the advice and guidance of
Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr.Sarath
Amunugama and Enterprise Development Minister Mano Wijeratne.By the end of
November 2008 the value of gem exports stood at Rs. 9,814.4 million, value
of gem re-exports at Rs.347.9 million, value of jewellery exports at Rs.
1,746.5 million, value of diamond re-export at Rs. 41,517.9 million, value
of diamond jewellery exports at Rs. 858.6 million and the value of gueda
exports at Rs. 158.5 million.
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