The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Energy Susil Premajayantha has emphasized that no foreign company or foreigner will be issued a license to mine gems. The Minister said that although foreigners could engage in the local gem trade, they cannot be involved in gem mining as a joint venture. A special committee has been appointed to look into the problems of those who are engaged in the gem industry. A system has been introduced to publish advertisements in the newspapers, before issuing licenses with the aim of streamlining gem mining.