A gem merchant from Nivithigala, Rohan Wasantha Dissanayake, has discovered a unique blue sapphire resembling the shape of Sri Lanka. Purchased from a gem miner in Karavita, the gemstone remarkably displays the island’s contours, including the Jaffna Peninsula, Mannar, and Trincomalee.
Dissanayake submitted the sapphire to the Gem and Jewellery Authority on December 24, where gemologists M.J.M. Dharmasekara and Janaka Hemachandra identified it as a natural blue sapphire of the corundum variety. They confirmed it as a rare find during a microscopic examination.
“I do not plan to cut or polish the gem but will preserve its natural form,” Dissanayake stated. He aims to showcase the gem at local and international exhibitions, waiting for the right opportunity to sell it at his desired price.
This discovery adds to Sri Lanka’s reputation as a hub for rare and exquisite gemstones, with the potential to captivate gem enthusiasts worldwide.
