FACETS Sri Lanka 2025 opening, a messy affair
FACETS Sri Lanka – 2025 International Gem and Jewlery Exhibition was inaugurated under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo today (Jan. 04).
Organized by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) in collaboration with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and the Export Development Board (EDB), this year marks the 31st edition of Asia’s leading gem and jewellery exhibition. The event will continue until January 6.
Delegations from China, India, the United States, Europe, and several other countries, along with representatives from globally renowned gem and jewellery companies visiting Sri Lanka for the first time, are participating in the event.
‘Too many cooks’
However, weak organizing and an apparent case of ‘too many cooks spoiling the broth’ had marred the opening of the event which was held under tight security conditions.
Journalists were invited to cover the event from several ministries. In a VVIP event as such, it is common practice to have a list of attending media personnel at the entrance to ensure a smooth operation. However, in this case, both journalists and security detail were severely inconvenienced after details of some media personnel had not been handed over to the security by the relevant authorities.
Chaos had continued inside with no proper seating arrangements made.
