A Sri Lankan business delegation’s visit to India is opening new avenues for sourcing, partnerships and investment in the country’s gem and jewellery sector, with potential relevance for South Asian jewellers serving international markets.
Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to expand its gem and jewellery business internationally, with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) leading a business delegation to India 6, to strengthen trade and investment relations and create new opportunities for the country’s gem and jewellery sector.
The delegation brought together the EDB, National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA), Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association, Lanka Gem Dealers & Miners Association, Ceylon Gem & Jewellery Traders Association and representatives from nine Sri Lankan gem and jewellery companies.
The programme began with a visit to the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) in Mumbai on August 8 and 9. The delegation met buyers, exhibitors and industry stakeholders, with discussions focused on sourcing, business linkages, partnerships and investment opportunities between Sri Lankan and Indian companies.
While India was the immediate focus of the delegation, the initiative forms part of Sri Lanka’s wider effort to strengthen the international presence of its gem and jewellery industry. The NGJA highlighted the country’s natural gemstones, skilled craftsmanship and industry expertise, while the EDB presented opportunities across sourcing, partnerships, investment and business collaboration.
The participating companies—including Gem Paradise, Punsiri Gems, Mansoor Gems, Beauty Gems, Gemluxe Ceylon, Ashadi Jewellers, GemTrad, Ceylon Gemora and Cey Gems—also presented their products and capabilities to potential business partners. The EDB positioned Sri Lanka as a destination for ethically sourced gemstones, jewellery and value-added gem and jewellery products.
The delegation’s programme continued with meetings with the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture, World Trade Centre Mumbai, the All India Association of Industries, International Chamber of Investment and Business and the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Agriculture in Pune.
For South Asian-origin jewellers operating in markets such as the UK, US, Canada and Australia, the development offers a regional sourcing story worth watching. Many diaspora jewellery businesses already work across South Asian supply networks, and increased international outreach by Sri Lankan gemstone companies could make it easier for overseas retailers and jewellers to explore direct relationships with suppliers from the island.
This is particularly relevant to businesses looking to build distinctive coloured-gemstone offerings around South Asian provenance. Sri Lanka’s established reputation for natural gemstones gives diaspora jewellers another regional source to consider when developing collections for customers who value heritage, craftsmanship and gemstone provenance.
The Sri Lankan associations also used the programme to promote key industry events, including Gem City Rathnapura, FACETS 2027 and Gem Sri Lanka. The EDB additionally promoted Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled for January 14–17 in Colombo, inviting international trade buyers and businesses to participate.
The wider objective is clear: to strengthen Sri Lanka’s commercial connections with jewellery markets and buyers beyond its domestic market. For overseas South Asian jewellers, the country’s expanding trade outreach could offer new avenues to discover suppliers, establish partnerships and bring Sri Lankan gemstone expertise into international retail markets.
As Sri Lanka builds momentum towards its 2027 trade and jewellery events, its gem and jewellery sector is positioning itself for greater engagement with buyers and business partners across the global jewellery trade.
The Retail Jeweller Global
