Editor’s Note
This article details a recent three-week training program in India for a delegation of Sri Lankan gem and jewellery professionals. The initiative highlights ongoing efforts to foster skill development and strengthen bilateral ties within this specialised industry.
A 20-member delegation of professionals from Sri Lanka’s Gem and Jewellery sector visited India from 1–20 December 2025 to participate in a specialised Training and Capacity Building Programme. The delegation represented the gemstone cutting and polishing segments of Sri Lanka’s Gem and Jewellery industry.
The programme was organised pursuant to the announcement made by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, under which India committed to offering 700 customised training slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals as part of ongoing bilateral capacity-building cooperation.
The 20-day training programme was conducted by the Government of India at the Indian Institute of Gem & Jewellery, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The curriculum comprised a comprehensive set of technical and thematic sessions covering the entire Gem and Jewellery value chain. Key modules included cleaving and sawing, pre-forming, shaping, cutting and faceting, polishing, quality assessment, and industry interactions, aimed at strengthening practical skills and enhancing design and production capabilities.
As part of the experiential learning component, the participants undertook site visits to leading gemstone manufacturing units, gaining first-hand exposure to contemporary production technologies, design development processes, and modern retail practices within India’s Gem and Jewellery ecosystem.
The specialised training programme contributed meaningfully to strengthening professional competencies, promoting knowledge exchange, and deepening institutional and industry linkages in the Gem and Jewellery sector between India and Sri Lanka, reflecting the continued commitment of both countries to capacity building and people-centric economic cooperation.