A high pressure gas discharge lamp (10) is described witha discharge vessel (20). Electrodes (24) project into a discharge space (22) surrounded by a dis- charge vessel wall (30) ofquartz material. The discharge space has a filling of rare gas and a metal halide composition which is free of mercury. The metal halide composition comprises at least halides of Sodium and Scandium with a mass ratio of halides of So- dium and Scandium of0.9-1.5.In order to provide a lamp that can be easily manufac- tured and is well suited for operation at reduced power, the discharge vessel wall (30) is ofexternally and internallycylindrical shape. The lamp may be manufactured by providing a cylindrical tube (2) of quartz material, heating the tube (2) at at least two distant portions and forming grooves (4) there, inserting two electrodes (24) into the tube and heating and pinching the tube(2) at both ends to seal the discharge space (22). Manufacture is carried out without a bulb forming step such that the discharge space (22) remains in externally and internally cylindrical shape.
