Video: British company that ignited gem war to Ratnapura?

‘Gemstones, a British company engaged in mass scale mining in Mozambique that has lead to deadly conflicts getting approval for mining for gems in Ratnapura  despite President Maithripala Sirisena promising people that he would not allow any foreign companies to intervene in gem industry in the country, has been revealed by the website ‘Radio Gagana’. It is this ‘Gemstones’ that has been the root of the tragedy in Mozambique.

THURSDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2015

The British company - its main aim is to take over the mining for blue sapphire in the country – has begun a partnership in 2014 with a company called East – West Gem Investments reported to have been established in the same year.

According to ‘Gemsfields’ it has 75% shares in 16 exploration licenses in Sri Lanka that covers ‘mining for diverse minerals". The licenses have been issued by the previous government and the National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA). Despite President saying foreigners would not be allowed to engage in gem mining in the country, the British company has formed Ratnapura Lanka Gemstones (Pvt.) Ltd. and BOI has confirmed that the company has been given approval as a gem company.

Responding to an inquiry by ‘Radio Gagana’ BOI has stated that the coordinator for Ratnapura Lanka Gemstones is Ssharm Fernando having an office at the 5th floor in the  western tower of World Trade Center in Colombo.