Taking all risks and facing numerous challenges we went to see our defeated people to share our love with them
Gem Net Sri Lanka delivered dry ration parcels to defeated gem miners and their families in, Ratnapura .
We sincerely thanks Dr. Richard and Dr. Shadi from Canada (Seekers Center) financially helping us to organize this charity. Without their generosity we couldn’t do it.
Towards the booming tourism in Sri Lanka, Ratnapura plays a significant role . Sri Lanka’s major gem traders operate from Ratnapura where a large number of local and foreign gem traders gather to sell and buy precious stones 
The area closer to Kaluganga bridge at the Demuwawatha Street is a good place to view traditional cutting operations for high-quality sapphires and other gemstones such as cat’s-eye chrysoberyl. This method is still preferred by Sri Lanka cutters, especially for preforming.
The traditional method of gemstone faceting done by a manual instrument called ‘Hanaporuwa’ also known as the “Pattale” by natives . Hanaporuwa (Ceylon Bow Cutter) was the main instrument of gemstone faceting in Sri Lanka until the early 1970’s.
These cutters use a bow to power a vertical lap, often holding the stone by hand or with a handheld dop as they cut and polish. They have a high degree of skill in orienting rough gemstones to achieve the best face-up color while retaining weight.
The cutting of asteriated gemstones is amongst the most challenging tasks a gemstone cutter faces. It is affected by several factors which must be taken into consideration during the cutting & polishing process.
A gemstones that displays asterism is always cut en cabochon in order to display the “star effect” However, the star will only appear when the cabochon dome is cut in a certain direction depending on the type of gemstone. For corundum (ruby and sapphire) the cabochon has to be cut with the dome along the c-axis (optic axis) of the stone for it to display asterism. The star effect is displayed due to inclusions (like tubes, silk, etc.) which are parallel to each other.
Gem cutting in Sri Lanka is a mixture of traditional techniques, utilizing some of the world’s most experience in orientation of rough and modern precision cutting.
Decades and even centuries of knowledge have been passed down on orienting sapphires and other gemstones such as cat’s-eye chrysoberyl.
Buying gemstones from Sri Lanka is cheaper than buying Sri Lankan gemstones in western countries.
Today Sri Lankan gems are most popular goods among the Tourists. There are many Tourists who visit to Sri Lanka willing to buy Sri Lankan gems. It’s no wonder that many visitors want to buy a sapphire in Sri Lanka, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best sources for blue sapphires. The country is also famous for their orangey pink Padparacha sapphires.
There are thousands of gemstone shops sprinkled throughout Sri Lanka. Some are elegant while others may be small and unassuming. It’s a common perception that big cities are expensive places to live as well its common bigger the shops higher the price.
A visit to the “Gem City of Gems Ratnapura, would be a wonderful moment of viewing numerous precious stones mined from fields and subjected to cutting and polishing. You may be a gem lover who likes to buy your desired gems at a price to suit your pocket or you may be a gem buyer who hunts for your requirement to get the best value for your money, In general you should know what you want and how much you want to spend.
Ratnapura- the city of gems – is still the heart of the industry, though new pits are being explored in other parts of the island. The quality of Ratnapura gems is legendary and the both Yellow and Blue Sapphires from the Ratnapura mines and market are exotic.
Ratnapura has a humming and full of energy market square where gem trading is a common trade for many years now and the Ratnapura Gem Market is the most popular gem hub of this beautiful country.
Although people seem to trade gems all over town, there are certain areas that specialize in uncut & unpolished stones, polished stones, cut stones, while other street will only deal in star sapphires or cats’ eyes.
In downtown Ratnapura, the lucrative gem trade comes alive every morning on the streets around the clock tower.
The Ambagaha Yata gem market in Ratnapura where multi-million rupee business transactions take place every day is a unique market which has a long history. Though there are no mango trees here today to signify its name Ambagaha Yata, this is where gem miners and primary buyers meet.
Thousands of gem miners, dealers and buyers from mining areas all around the country meet here.
From early morning with torches in their hands they wait with vigilant eyes to catch a client.
Though they are ready to do business worth millions of rupees most of them are simple, ordinary people
Without proper knowledge about stones and understanding the tricks of the trade it is extremely difficult to do business.
To the untrained eye, any shiny stone could pass as a high value gemstone.
Unless you have a good basic knowledge of gemology and generally know your garnets from your rubies and spinals from your sapphires, you can end up with a stone that’s worthless!.
Ask about the certificates provided
Certificates provide assurance of the carat weight, dimensions, origin and any treatments applied to the stone. Make sure to see the certificate and double check its details before you make payment.
1. The open gem market is full of synthetic and defused stones that can trick even the experienced gemologists.
2. Decide in advance whether you will purchase cut stones, or rough. It is illegal to export rough stones from Sri Lanka. However, this should not prevent you buying. You can take it to any gem cutter who will be please to cut it for you at a low cost. Cutting time , depending on the stone, would take only one or two hours even hour is possible if you are in rush. The average cost of cutting depends largely on the quality of rough.
3. When you buy semi-precious gems, you buy what you fall in love with but when it comes to precious gems like sapphires, and rubies your budget is crucial.
4. If you’re looking at saphires or rubies, the colour and quality variety can be daunting., so you’d perhaps be best to do some research before you go.
Generally the miner sells it to the local dealers who sells it to the gem exporters and thereafter who sells it to the international buyers and then to the gem shops customer who has thus paid at least five times more than he could have if purchased as close to the source as possible.
Anyhow local miners and gem sellers do not wait for a buyer and do not surf on the internet looking for buyers whereas genuine gem buyers visit to meet the sellers and negotiate face to face.
Gem Net Sri Lanka is a leading private sector company specializes in arranging Gem buying tours to Sri Lanka, make a bridge Sri Lanka gem industry to international buyers by resolving problems related to gem trade while offering services.
The company covers in all sectors of Sri Lanka gem trade giving up – to – date and timely information while offering best services. Gem Net Sri Lanka also provides consultancy services and bespoke solutions for visitors and buyers to the country to continue to support their activities.
We welcome both small and large quantity gem buying customers.
Gem Net- Mine to Market- buying office in Ratnapura is available to help any serious buyers hunting for Sri Lanka gems.
Gem Net- “Mine to Market”- Buying Office is situated at the center of world renowned Gem Market Street,(No 13, Council Avenue) in the city of gems Ratnapura. This is the main business area for gem purchasing.
Council Avenue Gem Market Street
Today most primary dealers who visit gem mining areas all around the country bring gemstones here and the miners around Ratnapura also directly bring their gem stones here.
At the Gem Net- “Mine to Market” office the sellers will come to you in an orderly fashion, away from chaos and the harsh sun, ensure a stress-free experience for your own convenience. This gives you access to the great bargains in gem stones Ratnapura and surrounding areas have to offer furthermore avoiding fake and synthetically enhanced gem stones which has flooded the market.
We allow you to scrutinize gems offered by sellers by providing a safe environment for gem buyers to purchase gems with NO OBLIGATION TO BUY.
We aim to build trust through excellent service and to build long lasting business relationships with our customers which benefit all parties
1. We guarantee the stones recommended by us are naturally mined gems with 100% accurate.
2. Arrange Sri Lanka Gem and Jewelry authority certificate for all your purchases.
3. Avoid high commissions added onto your gem purchases.
4. Provide a safe environment for gem buyers to purchase gems with NO OBLIGATION TO BUY.
5. Allow you to bargain to meet your price.
6. Advice when you quote higher buying price.
7. Avoid buying fake and synthetically enhanced gem stones.
Having experienced in Sri Lankan business trade over 20 years, we are well known to the gem trading community as well as to miners and to the government officials. In addition we have the potential knowledge to ensure you a prompt and efficient service. Gem Net Sri Lanka extended services covers in all sectors of Sri Lanka gem trade- on products and markets, investment opportunities, giving up –to- date and timely information while offering best services..
For more details Contact: Info Gem Net; Tel: +94 756407136, +94 703238325, Fax: +94 112336689 Email: gemnet@sltnet.lk, gemnetsrilanka@gmail.com
Sri Lanka is a marvelous island blessed with an enormous wealth of resources such as invaluable gemstones as well Sri Lanka is the world best producer of giant sapphires.
Sri Lankan blue sapphires are world-renowned and are highly priced because of its pleasing tone of color, flawlessness,very high transparency, clarity etc.
If you know your gems, then a visit straight to the source in Ratnapura is a must.
No trip to the island is complete without a visit to the city of gems.
Ratnapura has a true mine-to-market industry, both domestically and for export.
Gem Net Sri Lanka specializes in personalized guided gem buying trips and tours within Sri Lanka, organize gemological tours for visitors, students, professionals and geology enthusiasts willing to learn more and to enhance their resume.
Apart from gems, Sri Lankan tourism is priceless and must be taken advantage of the sights, natural beauty, etc.
GEM NET SRI LANKA TOUR PLANNING SERVICE – How does it work?
If you have an idea of what you want to do in Sri Lanka or just want to have get some ideas, just the type of holiday you would like – the places you would like to go and the things you would like to do and send us an Email to gemnetsrilanka@gmail.com
We will look at the options and send you a mail with a suggested itinerary, which you can change or add to at your will. When planning your tour we will look for the best offers and deals for you, making sure that everything is booked in the most economical way.
Once agreed, we will put everything in place for you, making sure that all the arrangements are convenient and suited to your needs and will turn your tour dreams into a reality.
We are equipped to handle all of your requirements including gem testing, gem cutting, meals and accommodations, transportation, customs, banking, shipping and more.
You may be a gem buyer who hunt for your requirement to get the best value for your money, or you may be a gem lover who likes to visit mining sites tour or buying tour, or you just like to discover hidden mysterious places, or just simply relax on a secluded beach somewhere, we know how to make it happen, and at a price to suit your pocket.
Basic Tour Itinerary
Contact Information
Person to Contact: Lalith Peiris
Address:11/8, 6th Lane, St. Benedict’s Mawatha,
Colombo 13,
Sri Lanka.
Tel Hot Line: +92 75 6407136,
Office: + 94 70 3238325, Fax: 94 11 2336689
E mail: gemnetsrilanka@gmail.com/ gemnet@sltnet.lk
Variability of Gem Pits
The general appearance of a gem mine or pit varies according to the depth at which illama (The gem bearing gravel is locally called illiam) is found. Illama found near the surface is called goda illama . If it is well below the surface, it is known as yati illlama .Shallow pits, which are also referred to as goda illama, are circular in shape, whereas the deep mines or yati illama are rectangular in shape.
Deep Gem Pits Mining Process
Deep mining is still carried out using traditional methods, with rectangular pits of 4’x8’, 6’x12’ or sometimes 6’x6’. The pits are reinforced by timber (mostly rubber wood) and planks from arecanut trees using ferns.
In the first stage of the excavation, miners remove the non-gem-bearing material which includes soil, sand and gravel that does not contain any gems. This layer is excavated and meticulously sorted through to fill in the pit later on.
A part of a deep gem mine showing reinforcement with timber, mainly rubber wood. This reinforcement is done at about 3–4 ft intervals
Planks and logs are used to support the walls of the pits. Before being taken into the pits, they are cut to the required shapes and sizes. This also is part of the miner’s work. Logs most commonly used are of coconut, rubber and areca nut, all of which can stand a great amount of weight.
The initial investment in acquiring the wood is not very large. Over the past few years, natural materials have been replaced by more modern equivalents. In many instances nowadays, wood may be substituted by steel plates, especially in deep mines.
First, a vertical shaft is driven downward. This is then amplified with bamboo poles in both horizontal and vertical directions. Pumps ensure continuous operation for which remains free of the shaft of water. In this kind is so far continued digging until the miners discover a layer in which the precious gems can be found.
A miner then climbs the narrow shaft down and holding a plastic tube in contact with his comrades above. Once at the bottom, he filled a sack or a large basket with gem soil. This is transported either by muscle power or with a winch to the top.
![7]_420x280](https://gemnetsrilanka.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/7_420x280.jpg?w=423&resize=423%2C282#038;h=282 "7]_420x280")
![0]_420x280](https://gemnetsrilanka.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/0_420x280.jpg?w=209&resize=209%2C139#038;h=139 "0]_420x280")
![.38]_420x280](https://gemnetsrilanka.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/38_420x280.jpg?w=209&resize=209%2C139#038;h=139 ".38]_420x280")
![8]_420x280](https://gemnetsrilanka.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/8_420x280.jpg?w=209&resize=209%2C139#038;h=139 "8]_420x280")
The process of removing and collecting the soil
Once the pit is dug deep, the implements have to be supplied to miners and arrangements have to be made to take the soil out. For this purpose, a manually operated roller is used to transport implements and other materials down and to bring the soil to the surface. Once the digging progresses, the pit gets filled with water which has to be constantly pumped out. for this purpose a fuel operated ,high powered water-pump is used.
The only source of light inside the mines are from candles. Candles also act as a warning of dangers from harmful gases, as the candles will not light if there is such a gas.
In some instances, illama is also excavated horizontally, thereby creating a tunnel known as donava. Donava may extend from 6 to 9 metres, or occasionally even more, away from the shaft.
Once the gem bearing gravels are found inside the cross tunnels, this gravel is broken with the help of a crow-bar.
Sending up this gem bearing gravel to the top is a time consuming exercise. They are filled into a basket and set up through a roller- operated rope. The piled up gravel is collected and carefully piled up near the mine until all the gravel is unearthed.
Shallow Mining Pits
When the mining is carried out in the dry ground, walls of the pit are not normally supported. However, for soft and wet grounds, walls are supported with timber and planks made from areca nut trees.
Shallow pits may be only a few meters deep.. Deep mines may have a depth of well over 100 meters.
The walls of these tunnels are constructed with timber that are resistant to rot and fern growth and is made to gather the pay gravel situated near the base..
Traditional Mining
Traditional mining, a mining method involving the use of simple manual tools, such as shovels, pickaxes, hammers, chisels and pans. It is done in both surface and underground environments.
Sri Lanka Gem Buying Guide 