The value of the star sapphire cluster, dubbed as the world’s largest, has been downgraded from USD 100 Million to USD 10,000, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was informed on Wednesday (24).

Officials from the National Gem and Jewlery Authority stated that the star sapphire cluster weighing around 510 kilograms was found in Ratnapura in July 2021 and the news was reported on a global level. Officials had stated that the Chairman of the Authority at the time had initially announced that the star sapphire cluster was worth around USD 200 Million, and downgraded it to USD 100 Million later. However, after being sent overseas for testing it was found that the world’s largest star sapphire cluster was only worth USD 10,000.

During the COPE meeting, many other irregularities at the National Gem and Jewlery Authority were scrutinized.