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World’s largest sapphire aggregate not sold yet, brought to Dubai from Switzerland

22 November 2022 01:25 am - 4     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The world’s largest single natural blue star sapphire cluster has not been sold as yet, and the cluster is being moved to Dubai from Switzerland, National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Viraj de Silva said.

Speaking to the media after an event to announce the first edition of the International Gem and Jewelry Show 2023, he stated that the blue sapphire cluster had not been sold yet.

He said the star sapphire cluster weighing 503.2 kg, which was found in Ratnapura last year, had been entered in the Guinness World Records

by the Gübelin Gem Lab in Switzerland on February 24, 2022, as the world’s largest sapphire aggregate.

"We are yet to find a buyer for the star sapphire, and therefore, the clients have decided to shift the cluster to Dubai. "We will see what we can do in Dubai," he said.

Holding the International Gem and Jewellery Show to promote Sri Lanka as a trading hub for the gem and jewellery industries, as we are the people who find gems. Other countries are doing the trading, it has been decided to turn the country into a gem and jewellery trading hub, the Chairman said.

"For the last couple of years, we were unable to do any promotional activities due to the COVID pandemic. This will attract high-end buyers to visit our country, which would generate foreign exchange. It would also be a stepping stone to improve tourism in the country," he said.

"For the time being, we have generated US$ 355 million over the last ten months. Our target is achieving a minimum of US$ 500 million by the end of this year. We are planning to reach a target of at least US$ 400 million to US$ 500 million from gems next year," the Chairman added. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana


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  Comments - 4

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • H T Tuesday, 22 November 2022 03:23 AM

    Why Dubai ? It is a city built in desert everything there is artificial. We come from such a beautiful country, showcase our sapphire from our country. We need patriotic leaders in our country.

    ranjit Tuesday, 22 November 2022 04:06 AM

    it will be ultimately stolen by the family next year, as what happened to the LTTE jewels

    Security for white elephant again Tuesday, 22 November 2022 07:54 AM

    The sapphire that size is like white elephant. No useful function. Who'd want such a big stone/rock. Sapphire if can be broken into many many small small pieces can be worn by many. This size useless Sri Lanka.

    Javed Tuesday, 22 November 2022 09:25 AM

    Why didn't cut gems out of the cluser and exported at high value while maintaining healthy cash flow to support further value addition, thus continually increased revenue? Could engage an investor to process it in Sri Lanka itself.


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