Known as the land of gems for centuries, Sri Lanka is said to have

the highest concentration of gem-bearing material in the world. The country is most famous for it’s blue sapphires, chrysoberyl cat’s eyes and most recently, for unusual orange-pink sapphires known as padmaraga that are found only in Sri Lanka. More than 50 varieties of gemstones are mined from Sri Lanka’s gravel and among them are a range of colours of sapphires, alexandrite, aquamarines, topaz, garnets, blue and white moonstones, amethysts and a host of other gemstones belonging to the quartz family.

Since King Solomon sent his emissaries to Ceylon to procure wonderful gems to win over the Queen of Sheba, royalty and the rich and the famous throughout the world have folloWed suit. The 400-carat blue sapphire called “Blue Belle” which adorns the British crown is from Sri Lanka, and so is the beautiful blue star sapphire mis-named the “Star of India” which is on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History in New York.