For centuries Sri Lanka has been known as the land of gems. There are more than 50 varieties of gemstones mined from Sri Lanka’s gem gravel. The country is most famous for its blue sapphires, cat’s eyes, and orange-pink sapphires known as padmaraga which are found only in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, you can find a range of colors of sapphires and star sapphires, alexandrite, aquamarines, topaz, garnets, moonstones, amethysts, etc.
Since King Solomon sent his emissaries to Ceylon to procure a wonderful gem to woo the elusive Queen of Sheba, the 400-carat blue sapphire called “Blue Belle” which adorns the British crown is from Sri Lanka, and so is the beautiful blue star sapphire misnamed the “Star of India” which is on permanent display at the Museum of Natural History in New York.