There are many precious stones found in Sri Lanka, including precious and semi-precious stones. Most of these stones are found in various major cities such as Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Pelmadulla, Akuressa, Matara, Deniyaya, Polonnaruwa, Eheliyagoda, Horana, and Elahara. Extensive gem deposits have recently been discovered at Hasalaka Welgahawadiya, which belongs to the Minipe division secretariat of Kandy district.
The following are the main types of gemstones found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Blue Sapphire – National Gemstone
star ruby, ruby
White Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Orange Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire
Star Sapphire, Alexandrite, Padmaraga Sapphire
chrysoberyl cat’s eye, alexandrite cat’s eye, chrysoberyl
Amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, pyrope garnet, topaz, hessonite garnet, rhodolite garnet
Citrine, almandine garnet, spessartite garnet, zircon, spinel
moonstone and tourmaline
Of all the gemstones mentioned above, sapphires and rubies, also known as corundum, are the most expensive minerals found in the country. Ceylon sapphires are considered to be the highest quality sapphires in the world. However, rubies are not as common in Sri Lanka as sapphires. A few months ago an alexandrite ore was discovered in a local mine and was auctioned and sold for $34 million.
It is said that 90% of the country’s land mass is made up of Precambrian gem-bearing rocks, except for the Jaffna Peninsula, which is made of Miocene rocks. Rough mined gemstones are sometimes found as crystals of small or very large proportions. They are exported only as finished cut and polished stones either faceted or cabochon ready to wear.
Of all the gemstones found in the country today, there are few stones cut only as cabochon, such as star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones, and all cat’s eye stones. All other varieties will be carved in local lapidaries.
There are also some types of rare gemstones found in Sri Lanka.
Axinite, Ekanite, Fluorite, Phenakite, Taaffeite
Cassiterite, Apidote, Idocrase, Rutile
Danburite, Euclase, Kyanite, Sapphrine
Dumortierite, Fibrolite, Monazite, Sphene
Sinhalite, Kornerupine, Andalusite, Apatite, Scapolite, Cordierite, Diopside, Anstatite
At present, the country’s gemstone and jewelry industry is booming with current export earnings of about USD 400 million per year. By 2016, the Sri Lankan government wants revenue to rise to $1 billion. So now Sri Lanka is also importing different types of raw minerals from other countries like Tanzania, Madagascar, Thailand and Myanmar to produce more jewelry. Most of these imported gemstones are not found naturally in Sri Lanka, such as lapis lazuli and lazuli. The Sri Lankan government allows importers to import these natural minerals duty free.
