Sri Lanka

Mining and quarrying have a relatively long history in Sri Lanka. Archaeological evidence suggests that gem mining goes back at least 2,000 years. The country has a rich variety of gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, and topaz. Sri Lanka is renowned for producing the finest quality blue sapphire, known as Ceylon sapphire. Historically, the best-known mining areas for gemstones were Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, and Elahera.

​

In addition to gemstones, Sri Lanka also had other mineral resources, such as graphite, mineral sands, and dolomite. The graphite deposits in Sri Lanka, which are among the largest known, were exploited by the British during colonial times. The country also has significant deposits of ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and monazite, which are used in the production of titanium dioxide for pigments, and in the manufacture of ceramics and refractories. Today, mining in Sri Lanka is small-scale and artisanal, with most mining activities focused on gemstones and quarrying for construction materials.