GJI is the foremost centre for vocational training in Jewellery Design, Manufacture & Lapidary training in Sri Lanka.
Based on a recommendation by Peter Raw, a consultant for the UK based World Gold Council in 2000, GJI was established with equity participation from eleven leading private sector jewellery manufacturing exporters and retailers, four state sector institutions and the apex trade association, with the aim of imparting a high level of education and training to students, and thereby enhance the product quality of Sri Lankan jewellery and expanding its scope in the domestic as well as international markets.
GJI, a non profit organization committed to excellence in education, is one of its kind in the country’s educational set up. One of its objectives is to encourage the youth of today to seriously consider the option of a career in the gem and jewellery industry. GJI also imparts the necessary knowledge and techniques for professionals who are already in the industry to compete in the global market place. Over the past few years the Institute has made substantial progress towards satisfying the industry’s demand for skilled professionals.
The GJI is assisted by two state agencies, the National Gem & Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB). The National Gem and Jewellery Authority provides sponsorships for students enrolling in GJI education programs, which is of immense value to both students and firms in the industry.
Since its inception in 2002, GJI has been working with two principal donor agencies in realising its goals, upgrading the sector and serving the country at large.
In 2005 GJI received Technical Assistance from USAID funded The Competitiveness Program (TCP) to sponsor trainers from Texas Institute of Jewellery Technology. From 2005-2007 the Institute received sponsorship from the European Commission (EC) in Capacity Building and skills development of the sector with the Technical Assistance from the prestigious University of Central England. In 2007 the GJI received Technical Assistance from the USAID funded TCP in building up a Lapidary School in the institute.
At present located in the heart of Colombo (292, Galle Road, Colombo 4), the institute has fully equipped facilities in Jewellery Designing, Manufacturing and Lapidary. The courses are conducted by a panel of highly talented practitioners with considerable local experience and foreign education. The institute is governed by a group of 10 professionals representing the industry in Sri Lanka. This active participation of the industry in managing its affairs is looked upon as the biggest strength of GJI.
Looking back at its short span of history, GJI has a humble pride of being able to add value to the sector and contribute to its growth.
With a glance at future, GJI sees itself as a nationally reputed, regionally recognised full-fledged vocational training institute offering quality assured, sector specific training in all aspects from Designing to Management & Marketing.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to be the leading provider of training in gem and jewellery technology in Sri Lanka.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to deliver world-class training and hi-tech manufacturing services to the gem & jewellery industry and thereby become a partner in the development of a globally competitive gem & jewellery industry in Sri Lanka.
Board of Directors
Chairman : Mr. S. Kandasamy, Lalitha Jewellery Mart Ltd
Deputy Chairman : Mr. A. P. Jeyarajah, Wellawatta Nithyakalyani Jewellers
Hony. Secretary : Mr. C. Ellawala, Renelle (Pvt) Ltd
Hony. Treasurer : Mr. Ali Suhail, Nugget Creations
Founder Members
The GJI is a public sector -private sector joint venture company. The Institute has a total of 15 members, 4 members are government sector organisations and 11 members are private sector organizations. The members are as follows,
- Sri Lanka Export Development Board
- Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association
- Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission
- National Gem & Jewellery Authority
- Gem & Jewellery Research & Training Institute
- Renelle (Pvt) Ltd
- Mallika Hemachandra Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd
- Zam Gems (Pvt) Ltd
- Sifani Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd
- Lalitha Jewellery Mart (Pvt) Ltd
- Premadasas Holdings (Pvt) Ltd
- A.P. Jayarajah (Wellawatte Nithyakalyani Jewellers)
- AMS International (Pvt) Ltd
- M.A.A. Suhail (Nugget Creations)
- Swarnamahal Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd
Available Courses:
- JEWELLERY STONE SETTING – BASIC
- JEWELLERY STONE SETTING – ADVANCE
- LAPIDARY – BASIC
- LAPIDARY – ADVANCE
- GEM IDENTIFICATION
- JEWELLERY DESIGN
- JEWELLERY TECHNICAL DRAWING
- JEWEL CAD (COMPUTER AIDED JEWELLERY DESIGN)
- CREATIVE JEWELLERY DESIGN
- WAX CARVING
- ELECTROPLATING
GJI is recognised for its Lapidary Education
 
| A Pakistani student at work |
A Pakistani student, receiving his certificate from the Chairman of NGJA Mr Hasitha Thilakarathne. The counsellor of Pakistani High Commission looks on. Background: the Chairman of GJI Mr Sellakumar Kandasamy |
On April 25th 2008, 19 students from Pakistan completed a two month training programme from Gem & Jewellery Institute (GJI), Sri Lanka, for which the Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) attended as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was graced by an elite crowd representing both The Gem and Jewellery Sector in Sri Lanka and The High Commission of Pakistan.
This occasion marked a milestone in the history of Sri Lankan Lapidary education. For the first time a group of students (19) from Pakistan has undergone a training in Gem Cutting and Polishing in a Sri Lankan Institute, which is an outcome of the MOU between the two countries, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for cooperation in the Gem and Jewellery Sector.
The group comprised of 10 students from Northern areas of Pakistan, 8 from Kashmir and 1 from Punjab. The students were a blend of First timers, Gem miners, Lapidary owners and trainers (at KADO Gem Cutting Centre - a project to empower women in Karimabad, Hunza, Pakistan). All the students acknowledged that the training offered at GJI was of high quality. Even the two trainers who underwent the course admitted that they had a lot to learn during the two months period and were quite confident that they will be able to share their knowledge with their students once they go back to Pakistan.
The institute considers this as a golden opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the two countries and expresses its sincere gratitude to Dr Muhammad Aejaz (The Counsellor, High Commission of Pakistan), Mr Donald Perera (Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association) and Mr Upali Nandalal (NGJA) for their efforts in bringing this programme to fruition.
The Gem and Jewellery Institute Launches GEM IDENTIFICATION
Sri Lanka, known as Ratna Deepa (the island of gems) is the home for some of the rarest precious stones in the world. Out of about 100 varieties of gems, around 75 varieties are found in our country, making our island one of the most important geographic locations in the world for gemstones. In order to recognize and realize the value of these natural resources at our doorstep and to convert it into a value added product one should have the expertise to identify them.
As one of the leading institutes in gem & jewellery education in Sri Lanka the Gem & Jewellery Institute (GJI) has a huge responsibility in catering to the educational needs of the industry. Having identified this role, GJI has made arrangements to offer a Gem Identification course, a course which focuses more on the practical side of the subject. While any individual who has the enthusiasm, can enrol and be benefited, the course is specially designed for those who are already in the trade, may it be a gem trader, a retailer, a manufacturer or a designer.
The industry lacks good quality training programs on Gem Identification. Though there are well structured Gemmology courses offered by the government institutions, still there is a void in the industry as far as gem identification is concerned. The Gem Identification program offered by GJI will bridge that void and GJI’s strong links with the industry will ensure that this course remains highly relevant to today’s requirements.
Introduction to the course
This is the study and identification of gem minerals, ranging from natural and synthetic gemstones through to imitation. This highly practical course takes place over a period of 5 months (80 hours) with all the gemmological instruments, enabling the students to carry out a range of standard gemmological tests used in the identification of gem stones. The students will start with the 10 X loops and will cover instruments such as the microscope, spectroscope, dichroscope and polariscope.
Lecturer
By profession K L D Dayasagara is a Gemmologist. Mr Dayasagara who has more than 15 years of teaching experience in the subject had been involved in teaching at Gem & Jewellery Research & Training Institute (GJRTI) and Maradana Technical College before he took over his current role as a Valuer/ Gemmologist at NGJA. Having taken up MSc in Gemmology at University of Peradeniya, Mr Dayasagara has extensive experience and knowledge in the subject.
 
Students – Identifying gem stones
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