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The gem and jewelry trade in Sri Lanka is as old as the country's ancient
history and civilization. The country can boast of a recorded history of
over two thousand five hundred years, and according to recent archaeological
excavations the history of the country could be dated back to even several
millennia prior to this. Perhaps, Sri Lanka is the oldest country in the
world that supplied colored gemstones to the entire world, and according to
legend King Solomon had sent his ships to Sri Lanka to bring back supplies
of rubies and sapphires, ivory, peacocks, apes and elephants that were
available in plenty in the country.
The ancient people of Sri Lanka not only mined valuable rubies and
sapphires, but also learnt how to process these rough stones to dazzling
finished gemstones, and subsequently set them in gold and silver jewelry and
other ornaments. Thus the handcrafted jewelry industry in Sri Lanka also has
a very ancient tradition. The ancient kings of Sri Lanka, realized the
important role played by the jewelry craftsmen in society, and extended
royal patronage to their crafts, with the result the craftsmen were placed
in a privileged position in society, as important as other segments of
society such as the farmers, the fisherman, the weavers, the pottery
workers, etc.
Jewel (Ceylon Sapphire) Studded Ornamental Elephant
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Ibn Batuta, the famous Arab traveler from Tangiers in Morocco, visited Sri
Lanka in 1344, after traveling overland through southern India. In his
travelogue, he made the following comments about gemstones of Sri Lanka :-
"Gems are met with in all localities of the island of Serendib. There are
the red rubies, the yellow topazes and blue sapphires. All women in the
island of Serendib possess necklaces of precious stones of diverse colors;
they wear them also at their hands and feet, in the form of bracelets and
anklets. I have seen on the forehead of the white elephant several of these
precious stones, each of which was larger than a hen's egg."
This account of Ibn Batuta shows how advanced the jewelry industry in Sri
Lanka was during the early 14h century. The tradition of adorning elephants
with precious stones during special royal as well as temple ceremonies had
been there since ancient times. The elephant was covered with jewel studded
apparel that covered both sides of the animal, and the forehead and trunk in
the front. The jewel-studded relic casket was placed on the back of the
elephant, which was supported by the rider. Such elaborately decorated
elephants can be seen parading the streets of Kandy, the sanctuary of the
sacred tooth relic of the lord Buddha, once every year in August, when the
relic is taken in procession along the streets of the ancient city. Hundreds
of elephants take part in this procession, and the chief elephant that
carries the sacred tooth relic is elaborately decorated, as shown in
the jewel studded replica on this page.
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