THE 16th Sri Lanka international gem and jewellery show entitled, �Facets Sri Lanka 2006�, will take place from September 6 to 9, 2006. The rising demand for booths, this year, has prompted the authorities to shift the venue from the Hilton Colombo hotel to the BMICH Exhibition and Convention Centre. Facets 2006 will host over 100 booths, including foreign exhibitors from Singapore, Dubai, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Myanmar. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will have a presence at the show and will be answer all visitor queries

The island�s history of gem mining dates back 2,500 years. Last year the country�s gem exports touched $250 million, with known reserves expected to last 100 years, according to the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). The January-to-May 2006 period saw Sri Lanka�s gem exports grow by 28 per cent to $43.5 million compared to $34.1 million in the corresponding period a year ago, according to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA).