Bogawantalawa...

Sri Lanka could impact nearly 600,000 miners, lapidarists, brokers, wholesalers, jewellers, and retailers - people who are directly employed in the industry.”

Iqbal added that Sri Lanka uses traditional mining methods in very sustainable manner through small scale operations bound by strict green mining regulations.

However, he noted that, “large scale mining, such as the Mozambique ruby operation, could flood the market with over supply. The rarity factor would be seriously affected, if this should happen.”

“Several international gem dealers have voiced their concerns about foreign companies being involved in operations locally, “as they are holding large stocks of sapphires and fear the fallout from potential supply increases.”

Iqbal has conveyed these sentiments through ICA, which the SLGJA is a member of. ICA has widely shared the bulletin with their members globally.

Walgama has an MBA from the Queens Business School in Canada and is a Fellow of CIMA UK. He has over 18 years of industry experience including international mega projects with capital costs in excess of US$ 7.5 billion.

He has been involved in the projects from planning to construction completion, and in some cases in operations of these projects as well. Walgama was recently a Senior Director at PWC Canada’s Risk Assurance Group where he led the Capital Projects and Infrastructure Practice. Prior to that he was the Project Management Director for Sherritt International.

He had served as the A-B Inbev, North America Treasury Head before joining Sherritt International.

Walgama is a specialist in construction dispute management and has successfully managed several international claims under the International Chamber of Commerce rules of arbitration.