
Indeed, the lord Buddha himself is sad to have had to come to Sri Lanka from India to settle a dispute between two kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, over a throne of gems.Sri Lanka, the island known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean lives up to its nickname as a hotbed for a variety of gems.Sri Lanka has been known as a land of gems. Sri Lanka is home to 40 varieties of Gems out of 85 varieties available in the whole world.
King Solomon was said to have procured a great ruby for the Queen of Sheba from Ceylon. Marco Polo wrote of wonderful Ceylon gems.The Blue Sapphire is king of Sri Lankan gems. The 400 carat Blue Sapphire called “Blue Belle”, which adorns the British Crown, is from Sri Lanka. The beautiful star sapphire misnamed the “Star of India” displayed at a New York’s Museum of Natural History.Another special case is bind with Royal family. Sri Lanka's connection to the
Royal Wedding on 29 April 2011.Sri Lanka has already made a unique contribution to the Prince William’s big day! The 12 Carat oval Blue Sapphire at the center of the engagement ring given to Kate Middleton originally came from Sri Lanka.
The State Gem CorporationThe State Gem Corporation plays a vital role in the development of the gem industry of the island. It annually holds courses in gem identification and lapidary training.