The 2015 Congress of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) opened yesterday at Sri Lanka with a gala opening ceremony that saw the participation of Sri Lankan ministers Ravi Karunnuyadka, Minister of Finance, Kabil Hashim, Minister of Enterprises and Investment, A.H.M. Fowzie, Minister of Disaster Management, Mohamed Imtizam, Chairman of the ICA Organizing Committee Sri Lanka and other senior gemstone and jewellery industry officials. This is the 16th Congress of the ICA.

Speaking at the inauguration, Karunnuyadka thanked the ICA for holding its Congress in Sri Lanka, and said that the government was supportive of efforts to expand the country's gems and jewelry industry. "We will give all support to the industry for tax incentives and duty concessions. We as a government will work to deal with problems and facilitate business opportunities and we would like to help develop a jewellery industry. We would like to make Sri Lanka a gemstones and jewellery centre. Any help the government can give, we will be happy to do so."

At the opening session, a specially created medallion that marks the 30th anniversary of the ICA, which is being celebrated this year, was presented by ICA President Benjamin Hackman to the Sri Lankan officials.  Hackman thanked Sri Lanka for hosting the Congress, saying that the country's leading position as a source for a range of gemstones made it an appropriate setting for the biennial event.

A.H.M. Imtizam welcomed the hundreds of participants to what he said was the oldest gemstone producing country in the world. He said that the ICA had helped in the development of Sri Lanka's gemstone industry.

The first day of the Congress saw a range of presentations on the sapphire industry worldwide, and particularly about such gemstones from Sri Lanka.

The Congress continues until Tuesday, May 19, and will look at marketing and design trends, as well as mining, geology and gemology issues.