January 2027 at a glance
| Show | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| FACETS Sri Lanka 202734th edition | 4–6 January 2027 | Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo |
| Gem Sri Lanka 20274th edition | 7–9 January 2027 | Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo |
| Sri Lanka Expo 2027 | 14–17 January 2027 | Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo |
Two shows, one week: FACETS (4–6 January) and Gem Sri Lanka (7–9 January) sit back to back, so a single trip covers both. Both are in Colombo; neither is in Beruwala.
Dates are set by the organisers and can change. Verify against the official sites before booking — this page was last checked 1 October 2026.
FACETS Sri Lanka 2027 — 4–6 January
Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams · No. 01 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200 · Map
FACETS is the trade show of the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association (SLGJA), now in its 34th edition, and it opens the island's gem year. The 2027 edition runs from 4 to 6 January at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams in Colombo.
When the SLGJA announced the dates in July 2026, it said it expected more than a hundred exhibitors, with buyers travelling from the USA, Europe, the Middle East, India, China and Thailand. The show is supported by Sri Lanka's Export Development Board and the National Gem & Jewellery Authority. The programme has historically included evening events such as Sapphire Night alongside the exhibition floors, a story corner with industry speakers, and buyer tours of the mining districts.
Visitor registration for the 2027 edition had not been published at the time of writing. At the 2026 edition, on-site registration ran daily from 10am to 7pm — treat that as the previous year's arrangement until the organiser confirms 2027 details.
Gem Sri Lanka 2027 — 7–9 January
Shangri-La Hotel · 1 Galle Face, Colombo 00200 · Map
Gem Sri Lanka is the newer show, and the one with Beruwala roots: it is organised by the Ceylon Gem & Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), whose offices are on Chinafort Road in Beruwala. It grew from 40 exhibitors at its first edition in Bentota to more than 110 at the third, and the fourth edition — 7 to 9 January 2027, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo — is the biggest yet by the organiser's own account.
Because the trade it represents is Beruwala's, this is the show where you are most likely to meet the dealers whose stones appear on this site, alongside exhibitors from Ratnapura and international sellers. The organiser also runs a gala evening for buyers and exhibitors.
Visitor rules — published by the organiser
- Dress code
- Smart casual. Shorts and sarongs are not permitted.
- Age limit
- Under-16s are not admitted to the show.
- First day
- Only invitee and buyer pass holders are admitted for the inauguration; visitor pass holders enter after it.
- Stones
- Visitors may not bring gems into the show for business purposes.
Visitor registration is open at registration.gslfair.com. The organiser also publishes contact details for the Beruwala office: 21 A 1/B Chinafort Road, Beruwala.
Sri Lanka Expo 2027 — 14–17 January
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) · Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 00700 · Map
A week after the two gem shows, Sri Lanka Expo runs from 14 to 17 January at the BMICH in Colombo. It is organised by the Export Development Board under the Ministry of Industry, and it is listed on the National Gem & Jewellery Authority's events calendar. It is a multi-sector trade exhibition rather than a gem show — the organiser advertises several hundred exhibitors across sectors that include gems and jewellery — so treat it as an additional stop if you are already in Colombo for the trade, not as a replacement for FACETS or Gem Sri Lanka.
Which show is for you?
| If you are… | Go to |
|---|---|
| A trade buyer sourcing sapphires, spinels and calibrated stones | Both Colombo shows, then a day in China Fort while you are on the island |
| A collector or retail buyer who wants to see the stones in person | Gem Sri Lanka on a visitor pass (days two and three), and the Beruwala market |
| Looking for stones at source rather than an exhibition stand | Beruwala's China Fort market — trading 9am–3pm, Saturday to Thursday |
| Interested in Sri Lankan trade and investment more broadly | Sri Lanka Expo at the BMICH, 14–17 January |
Adding Beruwala and China Fort to a show trip
The shows are in Colombo, but the trade they represent is on the coast. Beruwala is around an hour's drive south of the city along the A2 coastal road — up to two hours in traffic, and the organiser of Gem Sri Lanka suggests about 90 minutes from the venue. The coastal railway line also stops in Beruwala, and the market district of China Fort is a short tuk-tuk ride from the beach hotels.
The working market runs 9am to 3pm, Saturday to Thursday, and is closed on Fridays. The Pathe — the trading street — is busiest in the late morning, when the widest selection of stones is out on the tables. If you are travelling around the shows in January, a morning departure from Colombo puts you in the market at its best.
What you will not find in Beruwala is an exhibition hall: it is offices, tables and conversations, which is exactly why gem buyers keep coming back to it. Take a loupe, ask what has been done to each stone, and ask for laboratory certification on anything expensive — the same discipline applies whether you are buying from a stand in Colombo or a table in China Fort.
Planning notes for January
Book early. Early January is peak season on Sri Lanka's west coast, and the two gem shows land in the same week as the New Year holiday traffic. Colombo hotels around Cinnamon Life and the Shangri-La fill up first; Beruwala and Bentota are the alternative base if you want the market on your doorstep.
Check entry requirements. Most visitors need a visa or electronic travel authorisation for Sri Lanka — apply through the official government portal rather than a reseller, and do it before you book flights.
Bring the right expectations. These are trade events: business is done in conversations, quotes are given per stone, and treatment and origin claims should be tested the same way they are anywhere else. If a stone matters to you, its certificate matters too.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Sri Lanka gem fairs in 2027?＋
The 2027 season is concentrated in January: FACETS Sri Lanka runs 4–6 January 2027 at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Gem Sri Lanka runs 7–9 January 2027 at the Shangri-La Hotel, and Sri Lanka Expo runs 14–17 January 2027 at the BMICH in Colombo. All three are in Colombo, not Beruwala.
Is there a gem fair in Beruwala itself?＋
Beruwala's gem trade is a working market rather than an exhibition: the China Fort market — the Pathe — trades from 9am to 3pm, Saturday to Thursday, and is closed on Fridays. Gem Sri Lanka is organised by the Beruwala-based CGJTA, but the show itself is held in Colombo. No separate public gem exhibition in Beruwala has been announced for January 2027.
Can anyone attend Gem Sri Lanka 2027?＋
The organiser publishes visitor passes and asks visitors to register in advance at registration.gslfair.com. Day one of the show is restricted to invitee and buyer pass holders until the inauguration is complete; visitor pass holders are admitted after it. Under-16s are not admitted at all.
Can anyone attend FACETS Sri Lanka?＋
FACETS is positioned as an international trade show for the gem and jewellery industry, with international buyers and exhibitors. Visitor registration details for the 2027 edition had not been published at the time of writing — the organiser's site asks you to watch for announcements. At the 2026 edition, on-site registration ran daily from 10am to 7pm.
How far is Beruwala from the Colombo shows?＋
Roughly an hour's drive south of Colombo along the coastal road, and allow up to two hours in heavy traffic. The Gem Sri Lanka organiser suggests around 90 minutes from the venue. The coastal railway line also stops at Beruwala.
What should I do if I am visiting Sri Lanka for a gem show?＋
Plan the Colombo shows around a Beruwala day: the market trades mid-morning through early afternoon, so a morning departure from Colombo works. Ask dealers about treatment and origin, request a certificate for anything valuable, and compare stones across several offices before committing. January is peak season on the west coast, so book accommodation early.
About GEMS
Built in Beruwala, for the people who trade here
GEMS is digital infrastructure for Beruwala's gem trade — built for the dealers who already know the business, and for buyers who want a clearer way to discover stones and reach those dealers directly. Listings come from the dealers themselves; contact goes straight to them. Read more about GEMS.
Gemstone guides
- Ruby Prices in Sri Lanka: What Drives the Cost — Why two similar rubies can differ tenfold in price — colour, treatment, origin, size and certification — and how pricing works in Beruwala's gem trade.
- Heated vs Unheated Sapphires: What Buyers Should Know — What heat treatment does to a sapphire, when 'unheated' is worth the premium, and how to read the certificate — without the sales talk.
- A Day at China Fort: Inside Beruwala's Gem Market — What a visit to China Fort's gem market actually looks like — trading hours, how deals happen on the Pathe, market etiquette and what to bring.
- How to Buy Padparadscha Sapphire in Sri Lanka — What makes a true padparadscha, how to check treatment and certification, and practical tips for buying at Beruwala's China Fort gem market.
Sources & further reading
Dates, venues and visitor rules on this page were checked against the sources below on 1 October 2026. Where a detail was not yet published by the organiser, the page says so rather than guessing.
- FACETS Sri Lanka — official site of the SLGJA show; 2027 dates on the organiser's own footer.
- Gem Sri Lanka (GSL Fair) — official site, visitor guidelines and visitors page.
- Sri Lanka Mirror, “FACETS 2027 set for early January” — report from the SLGJA's 16 July 2026 press conference, including the 2028–2030 dates.
- National Gem and Jewellery Authority — events calendar — SLGJA's regulator and a partner of the shows; lists Sri Lanka Expo 2027.
- Beruwala Gem Market guide — opening hours, buying advice and dealer directory for China Fort.