Akram Cassim has been re-elected President of the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for a third term, at the association’s Annual General Meeting.
The AGM also elected a new board drawn from the gem, jewellery and lapidary sectors and from the country’s main gem-producing regions. Shezan Mansoor takes the post of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Shezard Careem heads the jewellery segment, Razni Haniffa the gem segment, Amanda Wijemanne the lapidary segment, Shezmin Mansoor promotions and FACETS, and Nawrooz Azmi finance.
“We have a well-balanced board combining experience with a new generation of industry leaders, representing the different sectors and regions that make up Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry,” Cassim said. “I believe this gives us a strong team to address the challenges before us, bring fresh ideas to the table and take the industry forward together.”
Gold imports named as the next reform step
In his address to the meeting, Cassim put regulatory reform at the top of the association’s agenda, citing continued engagement with the Industries Ministry, the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, the Export Development Board and Customs on tax, fiscal and regulatory matters.
He pointed to progress already made on the importation of rough gemstones, and identified the liberalisation of gold imports as the important next step — a change he linked to supporting domestic jewellery manufacturing and value-added exports rather than the export of raw stones.
Cassim also listed the continued development of FACETS Sri Lanka, the industry’s trade exhibition, along with traceability, gem and jewellery tourism, and greater participation by younger entrants, as priorities for the new board.
Vice President Shezan Mansoor said the association could “continue to strengthen” with the support of its membership under the new board.
The gem and jewellery trade is among Sri Lanka’s established export earners, and the sector’s long-running argument — reflected in Cassim’s remarks — is that value should be added onshore before stones leave the country.
Sources: Daily Mirror, Daily FT.
