By The Sunday Morning Business DeskA part of the star sapphire cluster that was discovered in Sri Lanka a few months ago, and said to be the largest in the world, is presently at the testing stage at the Gübelin Gem Lab in Switzerland, after which the entire cluster will be auctioned in Switzerland itself, The Sunday Morning Business learns. Continuous attempts to reach State Minister of Gem and Jewellery-related Industries Lohan Ratwatte until this edition went to print, proved futile. Experts said that the sapphire is pale blue in colour and weighs around 510 kg. The main gemstones found in Sri Lanka include sapphire, alexandrite, cat’s eye, padparadscha aquamarine, and moonstone, amongst which the blue sapphire is the most widely known coloured gemstone. The Government relaxed the 14% income tax on the gem and jewellery industry last year.

Source: The Nation November 21, 2021 01:09 UTC