<p>National Flag and National Emblem of Sri Lanka </p><p>National Bird in Sri Lanka - Jungle Fowl </p><p>National Animal in Sri Lanka - Giant Squirrel </p><p>National Flower in Sri Lanka - Blue Water Lily </p><p>National Tree in Sri Lanka - Na Tree </p><p>National Game in Sri Lanka - Volley Ball </p><p>National Gem in Sri Lanka - Blue Sapphire </p><p>Sri Lanka First Capital - Anuradapura </p><p>Sri Lanka Second Capital - Polonnaruwa </p><p>Sri Lanka Last Kingdom - Kandy</p>

Gems & Jewellery

 Historical Background

From time immemorial Sri Lanka has had a sparkling reputation for highly treasured gems. Sri Lanka’s mineral rich soils have been yielding a seemingly never ending supply of high quality precious and semi precious gem stones such as Sapphires, Star Sapphire, Rubies, Star Rubies, Alexandrites, Cat’s eyes, Garnets, Zircons, Tourmalines and Spinels. The gem industry in Sri Lanka is of great antiquity. Reference is made in the scriptures to gems being brought from Ceylon to the Court of Solomon. It is also said that ages ago Arab adventurers came to Ceylon in search of this. The Mahavansa, the great historical chronicle of Ceylon whose authority is undoubted, refers, to the singular reputation of this Island for it’s wealth in gems.

It is an accepted fact that Sri Lanka is one of the largest sources of some of the finest gemstones in the world. A few of the priceless, treasures., whose, origins are traceable to Sri Lanka are Blue Giant of Orient (466 cts) Logan Blue Sapphire (423cts), Blue Belle of Asia (400 cts) Rossar Reeves Star Ruby (138.7cts) and Star of Lanka (393 cts) and the Ray of Treasure (105 cts Cat’s Eye). The Star of Lanka and Ray of treasure are the proud possessions of the National Gem & Jewellery Authority.

 Gem Stones Found in Sri Lanka

• Alexandrite

• Alexandrite Cat's Eye

• Almandine Garnet

• Amethyst

• Aquamarine

• Beryl

• Blue Sapphire

• Chrysoberyl

• Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye

• Citrene

• Hessonite Garnet

• Moonstone

• Orange Sapphire

• Pathparaja Sapphire

• Pink Sapphire

• Pyrope Garnet

• Rhodolite Garnet

• Ruby

• Spessartite Garnet

• Spinel

• Star Ruby

• Star Sapphire

• Tourmaline

• Yellow Sapphire

• Topaz

• Zircon
  photo---1   photo---2   photo---3   photo---4   
        Blue Saphire

  

  Star Ruby     Yellow Saphire    Cat's Eye  
   photo---5    photo---6    photo---7    photo---8  
   Star Saphire    Alexandrite  

 Star of Lanka

393 Carats

  

 Ray of Treasure

105 Carats

  
   alexandrit2s    alexandrit3s    zircon-2    zircon-3  
 

 Alexandrite

Cat's Eye

  

Alexandrite

    Zircon    Zircon  
     

 

          
     

 

          
   photo---14  

photo---15

   photo---10   photo---9  
  Pride of Sri Lanka

Weight : 850 Carats
Colour : Deep Blue 
Location :

Two Kilometers

off Ratnapura

  

 Corundum

Crystals 

Homogeneous

Parallel Growth

  

Splendour of

Sri Lanka
Weight : 1.6 Kg.
Colour : Blue Colour
Location : Palmadulla

  

Blue Sapphire
A masterpiece
of a gemstone

found at

Palmadulla

in Sri Lanka

Weight :

250 Carats
Colour:

Corn Flower Blue

  

Different Groupings of Gems

Corundum

• Blue Saphire 

• Ruby

• Star Saphire

• Star Ruby

• Yellow Saphire

• Golden Saphire

• Padparadscha

• White Saphire

uartz

• Yellow

• Brown

• Rose

• White

• Purple(Amethyst)

Chrysoberyl

• Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye

• Alexandrite

• Alexandrite Cat's Eye

• Chrysoberyl

Spinel

• Blue Spinel

• Red Spinel, Mauve Spinel

Topaz

• White Topaz

Garnet

• Rose Red Colored

• Red Mauve

• Hessonite Garnet

• Spessartite Garnet

Beryl

• Aquamarine

• White Beryl

• Pale Green Beryl

 Zircon

• Green Zircon 

• Yellow Zircon

• Brown Zircon

• Red & Blue Zircon(very rare)

Tourmaline

• Green

• Brown Varieties

Feldspar

• Moonstone

 

Birth Stone

Month Colour Relevent Gem Stone
January Dark Red Garnet
February Purple Amethyst
March Pale Blue Aqua Marine
April White Diamond
May Bright Green Emarald
June Cream Pearl or Moonstone
July Red Ruby
August Pale Blue Peridot
September Deep Blue Blue Saphhire
October Variegated Opal or Tourmaline
November Yellow Topaz
December Sky Blue Turquise or Lapis Lazuli
 Gem Buying Hints

Always purchase gems from a reputable dealer licenced by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) As an additional service, N.G.J.A will test gems at the following locations free of charge – purchased from anywhere in the country

N.G.J.A.Head Office,

25, Galle Face Terrace,

Colombo 03.
 N.G.J.E.Office

Level – 5, East Low Block,

World Trade Center,

Echelon Square, Colombo 01.
 N.G.J.A.Head Office

“Gem Centre” ,

Ratnapura.
 Certificates are issued at Head Office and Colombo Office at a nominal fee of US.$.8.00 (approx.) per certificate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are six key steps in examining a gemstone

 1. When ever possible examine the stone unmounted against a white background. 

2. Make sure the gem is clean
3. Hold it at the girdle with Tweezers
4. View under daylight
5. View under artificial light
6. View from different angles
7. Inspect the surface and interior with a lens (loupe) with 10X magnifications

Explore Asia Holidays

165, Castle Street, Colombo 08,
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 112 689550
Mob: +94 777 592921
Skype: explore_asia
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Web: www.smallmiracle.lk