Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said the Police, Postal Department and airport are investigating the loss of precious stones shipped to foreign countries via Sri Lankan airmail.
Although gem parcels sent to foreign countries through the airport have reached their destinations, on about ten occasions in the past three months, complaints have been reported that some gems in the parcels were missing and the value of the lost gems has not been confirmed until now.
It has now been confirmed that an organised group is behind the disappearances. It has been revealed that the value of some of the missing gems is very high.
The Postmaster General said that nearly 200 parcels of gemstone are sent abroad by Sri Lankan gem traders via airmail per month.The value of the missing gems has not yet been confirmed and it is assumed that they are of high value. The gemstones reported missing were sent to the United States, China, Canada and Switzerland.
He said that even if such items are insured, the responsibility of safeguarding those lies with the airport ground staff, and even though the airport staff gives their full support in sending postal items safely, this may have been done meticulously by some organised group, he added.