Research Symposium (GARS 2025)
The Gemmologists Association Research Symposium 2025 was held on 22nd November at the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka, (OPA) Colombo 07. The event marked the third consecutive year of this national research platform dedicated to strengthening gemmological knowledge, supporting young scholars, and advancing the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery sector. The symposium took place under the theme Sustainable Gem Development: Technology, Craftsmanship and National Value Creation, a theme chosen to highlight the increasing need for responsible industry practices and the importance of enhancing value addition within the sector.
The symposium brought together researchers, academics, industry professionals, OPA officials and government representatives (NGJA, GJRTI). It was jointly organized by the Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka (GASL) and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), which also continues to play a key role in supporting national-level gem industry development. The proceedings were compiled into an extended abstract volume (ISSN 3021-6982) that presented a series of scientific studies related to gem mining, processing, trade, treatment, technology, and sustainability.
The symposium created an opportunity for networking among delegates from various institutions, including universities, private laboratories, industry organizations, and government agencies. Under the leadership of Mr. N. I. Balage, Chairman of GARS 2025, the symposium conveyed a powerful and influential message to the industry. In his welcome speech, he expressed gratitude to the participants and emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent research platform within the gem and jewellery field. He acknowledged the growth of the symposium since its beginning in 2023 and stated that the event now stands as a permanent fixture in the GASL calendar.
The President of the GASL, Mr Samitha Liyanage, explained that the Association created this symposium to give Sri Lankan researchers a formal venue for scientific communication. He further observed that many individuals in the gem field conduct valuable work but often lack opportunities to publish or present their findings. The symposium was designed to fill this gap and promote research that supports national value creation and industry development. The keynote speech, delivered by the Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Dr. S. P. Chaminda, focused on sector-wide development, regulatory priorities, and the importance of technology and ethical practices. He highlighted the need for data-driven decisions and stronger educational initiatives to support the future of the industry. His remarks provided a strong foundation for the technical sessions that followed.
The first technical session was chaired by Prof Rohan Fernando. The panel included senior industry experts who offered comments during the discussions. This session presented studies relating to machine learning applications, environmental assessments, socio-economic issues, and technological improvements in gemstone colour evaluation. A research team from the Gem & Jewellery Institute of Thailand also shared their findings on how light sources influence the colour grading of corundum gems. The second technical session chaired by Dr Udeni Amarasinghe. This session presented research on digital transformation, sustainability, gemstone treatment, and the lapidary sector. The range of studies covered modern challenges and future opportunities for the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry. After the technical sessions concluded, the symposium held a recognition ceremony to honour the reviewers and presenters for their contributions. Certificates were awarded to individuals who played key roles in preparing the publication.
The symposium officially ended with the vote of thanks delivered by the Symposium Secretary, Mr R.G.C. Jaliya. He acknowledged the contributions of researchers, reviewers, committee members, collaborators, and participants. He also recognized the support of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and other partnering institutions whose involvement helped ensure the successful organization of the event. Overall, the Gemmologists Association Research Symposium 2025 was conducted successfully with strong participation from academia and industry. The event provided an effective platform to share new scientific findings, discuss challenges, and outline opportunities that can guide Sri Lanka's gem and jewellery sector towards sustainable growth. The diversity of research topics, ranging from technology and digital transformation to environmental responsibility and community welfare, reflected the evolving needs of the industry. The symposium continued its mission of promoting scholarly engagement and supporting the national vision of enhancing value creation within the gem sector.
