Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena pledged to continue efforts to block foreign gem companies from mining in Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Speaking at the National Gem and Jewellery Exhibition, Mr Sirisena stated that “the people requested me not to let the foreign companies mine gems in Sri Lanka”.
Once elected, Mr Sirisena said he “took every action to stop such mining by foreign companies as soon as I got to know about those". "The government will provide every facility on this regard," he added.
His remarks come despite Sri Lanka’s Central Bank stating income from exports of gems, diamonds and jewellery fell over 19 percent this year, earning just US$ 243 million.
Earlier this month, the Central Bank released figures showing exports fell for the seventh successive month in September 2015, with tea export earnings slumping by 20.4 percent.
Also see our earlier posts:
Sri Lankan reforms will grow bilateral trade says US Ambassador (17 Nov 2015)
‘Rule of law, good governance and democracy’ drives prosperity – British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka (25 Nov 2015)
Speaking at the National Gem and Jewellery Exhibition, Mr Sirisena stated that “the people requested me not to let the foreign companies mine gems in Sri Lanka”.
Once elected, Mr Sirisena said he “took every action to stop such mining by foreign companies as soon as I got to know about those". "The government will provide every facility on this regard," he added.
His remarks come despite Sri Lanka’s Central Bank stating income from exports of gems, diamonds and jewellery fell over 19 percent this year, earning just US$ 243 million.
Earlier this month, the Central Bank released figures showing exports fell for the seventh successive month in September 2015, with tea export earnings slumping by 20.4 percent.
Also see our earlier posts:
Sri Lankan reforms will grow bilateral trade says US Ambassador (17 Nov 2015)
‘Rule of law, good governance and democracy’ drives prosperity – British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka (25 Nov 2015)