Trade press in July 2026 returned to the All Ceylon Gem Miners and Dealers Association proposal for a Gem Bank of Sri Lanka, emphasizing the liquidity gap between private inventory and cash.
Chairman Dr. Thilakasiri Witharana repeated the claim that dealers hold billions of dollars in gem stocks that rarely appear in export data because stones stay in vaults until a matching buyer appears. A gem bank, in theory, would appraise, hold, or finance against that inventory.
Skeptics note valuation risk, moral hazard, and the difficulty of marking illiquid included rough to market. Supporters counter that Sri Lanka already sits on national wealth in stones without financial infrastructure to mobilize it.
No gem bank was operational as of July 2026. The debate nonetheless explains why formal export totals understate on-island value. Policy watchers expect the topic to surface again around budget discussions and post-exhibition export reviews in September.
