Can tourists buy gemstones in Sri Lanka?

Yes, as a tourist, you can buy natural gemstones in Sri Lanka quite easily and legally, since the island is known worldwide for excellent sapphires, rubies, and tourmalines. Travellers can pick loose stones or choose finished jewellery from licensed merchants, markets, and smaller boutiques throughout the country.

Places like Ratnapura, the “City of Gems”, and also Galle and Colombo, are major trading hubs for gemstone commerce. Still, you should be careful and only purchase from trustworthy traders that are registered with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, NGJA, of Sri Lanka. To reduce the risk of those tourist traps or ending up with synthetic stones that are presented as genuine, always ask for a formal receipt plus an independent gemmological certificate when the value is high, and do not skip this step.