We recently took the opportunity to extend a business trip and do a bit of exploring of the Ratnapurna region of Sri Lanka. Ratnapura, is the mining hub and market for Blue Sapphires and so using booking.com and a small prayer that our guesthouse selection was sound, we set off for our little mini private gem adventure.
With our luck and not having the liberty of flexibility of our dates, our main day in Ratnapurna happened to be a public holiday. Although this meant that we would not be able to experience the reknowned gem market, it also meant no pre-arranged gem tours. But that is easily solved in Sri Lanka. Everyone knows someone who can assist, and soon we had our whole day excursion planned and we were on our way to visit a working mine.
We had little expectation of what we were to experience other than the clips we had viewed on YouTube. At the mine, we were greeted by the foreman and followed him on an impromptu tour. Clambering over mounds of clumpy grey mud, we came to the mine. A simple hole which resembles a bit of a wishing well set up and each morning before work, they pump the hole dry. The walls are reinforced by timber and reed. The miners clamber down the sides, and enter tunnels which extend from the main shaft.

When a seam is found, they scoop the mud into a cloth bag, and a pulley drags it out and up to the surface. The gem-bearing mud is accumulated and washed in a pit to reveal smooth stones which resemble tumbled pebbles. These are then taken for second washing where the first and second grade stones are removed. The mine owners get the first grade and the miners take the second grade.
We were a little taken back at the conditions that the miners have to work in. It was sweltering hot and we were in dire need of liquid. Relief came in the form of coconuts which were surprisingly refreshing and cool, dribbling coconut water down our chests as we greedily drank the milky liquid.
Although we did not find any good specimens of Ceylon Sapphires, we did find some chips in matrix which we brought home as a momento. But you can buy rough and cut high quality sapphires. You need to know what you are looking at and the prices, which are generally lower in Ratnatpurna as this is where they are mined.
We were thrilled and honoured to be able to visit the mine and we instantly shared a common connection with these simplest of people in the lure to find that one special stone.

Useful info:
Getting there :
We travelled from Colombo to Ratnapurna via pre-arranged private taxi and our driver stayed with us at the guest house which seems to be relatively easy to arrange in Sri Lanka. It was quite a hectic 4 hour drive. Travelling in Sri Lanka takes a long time, so plan your trip well.
Accommodation :
We stayed in a lovely guest house called Gemfields Rest which we booked via booking.com The owner is the son of a retired miner. They can arrange gem tours for you and also have a selection of gems that you can buy. The guest house was way above what we expected, clean, friendly and spacious. We would stay there again without hesitation.

Blue Sapphire
The Blue Sapphire is a variety of corundum. Historically Blue Sapphires came from Burma, Kashmir and Sir Lanka. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon has some of the oldest known mines dating back to the 2nd Century AD and some of the most beautiful Blue Sapphires come from the Ratnapurna area (also known as “City of Gems”).