A team of officials led by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently conducted an observation visit to Ashadi Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd, one of the country's leading jewelry manufacturing enterprises. The visit aimed to assess and provide the necessary support to strengthen the company's export capabilities.
Established in 1988, Ashadi Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd has grown into one of Sri Lanka's largest handmade jewelry manufacturers, currently supported by a workforce of 330 employees. The company specializes in the retail, wholesale, and manufacturing of jewelry crafted from precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones. It successfully combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), CNC precision engineering, laser welding, and advanced gemstone cutting and grading.
This initiative comes at a vital time for the sector. In 2025, the gem and jewelry industry generated a total export income of US$ 334 million, with gemstones contributing US$ 189 million, diamonds US$ 127 million, and jewelry US$ 17.8 million. For the first half of 2026 (January to June), the sector has already recorded US$ 154.24 million in export earnings.
Supported by flagship platforms such as FACETS Sri Lanka, Gem Sri Lanka, and Gem City Rathnapura, the EDB has set an ambitious industry target of US$ 1 billion in export earnings by 2030.
A significant upcoming milestone is the Sri Lanka Expo 2027 International Trade Fair, scheduled to be held from January 14 to 17, 2027, at the BMICH in Colombo. This event will provide local exporters with the opportunity to meet over 1,500 global buyers and investors, offering a major platform for the gem and jewelry sector
Export markets vary across the sector's sub-categories: gems are mainly exported to Hong Kong, Switzerland, Thailand, the United States and Italy; diamonds to Switzerland, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium and India; and jewellery chiefly to the United States, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Australia.
The EDB noted that Ashadi Jewellers is already well-equipped with the necessary technical expertise. The board intends to assist the company in its final preparations to become a fully export-ready enterprise in the near future. During the visit, the EDB focused on identifying institutional support and market strategies required for international expansion. The Export Development Board reaffirmed its commitment to guiding capable local enterprises to compete successfully in the global market
