Sri Lanka hosts both government-operated and private laboratories that cater to the diverse needs of the gem and jewellery industry, from individual buyers seeking assurance to major exporters requiring documentation for international trade.
The National Gem and Jewellery Authority operate as Sri Lanka's principal government-run gem testing laboratory. Established under the NGJA Act, this laboratory serves as the official testing facility for the country's gem industry. The NGJA laboratory is equipped with both basic and advanced gemmological instruments, enabling comprehensive testing services that meet international standards.
The NGJA laboratory operates from multiple locations to serve the industry effectively. The main facility is located at No. 260, RTFC & WMC Building, Lake Drive, Colombo 05, with additional services available at the Ratnapura branch office, which serves the heart of Sri Lanka's gem mining region. The laboratory issues various types of certificates, from basic identification reports to comprehensive certification documents, with pricing structures that reflect the complexity of testing required.
Being a government institution, the NGJA laboratory carries official authority, and its certificates are particularly valued for regulatory purposes and export documentation. The laboratory specialises in testing Sri Lankan gemstone varieties, particularly Ceylon sapphires, and maintains extensive reference databases for local gem material.
Established in 2005, GIC has positioned itself as a leading private gem testing and certification laboratory in Sri Lanka. The institute is a subsidiary of B.P. De Silva Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore, a company with over 150 years of history in the gems and jewellery industry. GIC's laboratory is equipped with computer-aided gem analytical equipment conforming to international certification standards. The institute maintains an affiliation with Japan Germany Gemmological Laboratory (JGGL) in Tokyo. This partnership provides access to an extensive backend database and enables verification of complex testing results. GIC's laboratory issues certificates for both coloured gemstones and diamonds, including diamond grading reports for stones in the D-to-Z colour range.
Operating as an independent firm, GGTL identifies, appraises, and evaluates gemstones and jewellery for both the trade and the public. The laboratory's team includes gemmologists with membership in the GIA Alumni Association, the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA), and the Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka (MGA). GGTL offers online certificate validation through their website and WhatsApp verification for card certificates, providing convenience for buyers. The laboratory's services include identification of species and variety, detection of thermal treatments, oil and lead glass treatments, cobalt and titanium treatments, beryllium diffusion treatment, and country of origin determination.
GRC specialises in origin identification, enhancement analysis, research and authenticity reports for precious gems, including rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. The laboratory is staffed by GIA-qualified Graduate Gemmologists with extensive experience in gem testing and certification. GRC provides certification for both loose stones and mounted jewellery pieces. Their online verification system allows customers worldwide to validate the authenticity of certificates issued by the laboratory.
With state-of-the-art facilities in Colombo and Beruwala, Sri Lanka. PGTL operates advanced testing equipment, including FTIR, UV-VIS, and Raman spectrometers. The laboratory is notable for being the only Sri Lankan gem testing facility that grades diamonds against GIA-graded master stones, ensuring colour grading meets international standards with the highest precision. PGTL's founding team brings over 35 years of combined hands-on experience.
