Sri Lanka has been famous for its precious stones since antiquity, and gems and jewellery remain important to the national economy even today. The town of Ratnapura is home to a flourishing gem and jewellery industry that goes back to old times , where locally excavated uncut gems are traded daily on the streets. All foreign visitors to the town will be offered stones to buy, but unless you’re an expert gemologist there’s a strong chance that you’ll end up with an expensive piece of coloured glass.Sri Lanka is popular for its valuable and semi-valuable gemstones including Blue Sapphires, Cat’s Eyes, Alexandrites, , Amethysts , Red Rubies, , Tourmalines, Zircons, Garnets and Topaz.
If you visit Ratnapura , you can see jewels being mined, cut and cleaned and additionally buy gems. This industry is monitored by the National Gem and Jewelry Authority which has outlets placed in Colombo and Ratnapura to check the authenticity of jewels that you have bought. Ratnapura apart, you’ll find gem and jewellery shops all over the island – the major concentrations are in Negombo, Galle and Colombo. These include large chains, such as Zam Gems or Sifani, and smaller local outfits.
If you are going to buy, it’s worth doing some homework before you arrive so you can compare prices with those back home. You can get gems tested for authenticity in Colombo and Ratnapura. For silver and, especially, gold jewellery, try Sea Street in Colombo’s Pettah district, which is lined with shops. These see few tourists, so prices are reasonable, although the flouncy designs on offer aren’t to everyone’s taste.
