Ratnapura: Sabaragamuwa gem-pit district & gem markets

Where: India & Indian Ocean · Asia · approx. 6.68, 80.4 (vicinity only)

Why this spot: Rockhounding locality: Sri Lanka's 'City of Gems', hand-dug illam gravel pits 10-50 m deep in paddy fields, feeding street gem markets traded since antiquity

What turns up: tour-and-buy: blue sapphire, star sapphire, ruby, spinel, garnet, moonstone rough at morning street markets

Access: Licensed / permit.

All gem mining requires an NGJA licence held by locals; visitors join guided pit tours and buy rough or cut stones at the open markets, they do not dig themselves

Satellite view, historic-map overlays, tide/flow context and field notes are in the app. Exact research detail is part of Pro.