Sri Lanka is well known throughout the world for the large quantity and exquisite variety of its gemstones. 

During early times Sri Lanka was once quite fittingly referred to as “Rathna-dweepa” which connotes the meaning “The Island of Gemstones”. The name Rathna-dveepa is found in many chronicles. 

Corundum of a red colour are identified as Rubies. Most Sri Lankan varieties are of a pinkish red and display a tint of purple. These purplish tints are attributed to the presence of iron in addition to chromium oxide in the composition.

Sri Lanka has maintained its status as the most prolific source of blue sapphires which constitute 85% of the 130 varieties mined in the country.

Garnets are a group of minerals which refer to a fairly complex group with a great amount of isomorphic replacement resulting in intermixtures of chemical compositions giving a distinct range of colours.

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl is perhaps rarest and Sri Lanka is famous for producing larger stones with fair colour change. 

The primary beauty of this gem is due to its colour change. At best Sri Lankan stones can be grass green in daylight and violet red to raspberry red in incandescent or artificial light.

Tourmaline naturally results in a wide range of colors and even colour variations in the same gem in concentric or horizontal bands. The noteworthy colors found in Sri Lanka are yellowish green, dull green, honey yellow brown and rarely blue and bright green.

Spinel is a gemstone found in greater abundance in Sri Lanka than either corundum or chrysoberyl. Its very abundance makes Sri Lanka the second largest producer of this stone next to Myanmar.