Rathnapura

The name Rathnapura still conjures up images from the past: It means the “city of gems” , a reputation founded on the countless deposits rich with Sapphires and Zircons which run across the gem belt to the east of town, It is an interesting stopping place, surrounded by a wondrous mineral and plant world, natural treasures which continued the wealth of the island’s kingdoms when merchants came from overseas in search of rubies and ebony. *The Gemological Museum* of Rathnapura to have been the first of museum founded in Sri Lanka in 1960 with the aim of studying and the cutting of stones.

The gem market held everyday in Rathnapura between 6 am and 2 pm , no shops or stalls just men with their hands in their pockets. The stones sold on the street are in their raw state and come from the mines in the area. Most of the sellers are miners come from the gem belt. It is the center of a long established industry of precious stone mining including Rubies and sapphires and other gems. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the city. Tea grown in this region called low-country tea. The people of the area depends on the gem trade and gem mines are common sights in the surrounding area. Everyday , a large number of traders from suburbs and other towns gather in the town center to sell or buy gemstones. There are three main gem market places in Rathanpura. Many of the prominent gem dealers operate from this town. The mining operation for gems has been virtually the same since the days of the Alexander the Great.

The famous Saman Devalaya was erect in the reign of Rajasinghe II (1634-84 ) on the site of the shrine founded in the 13th century. In the Sinhalese pantheon Saman is the god who protects the west. His origin remains a mystery to historians.