Gemexpeditions - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka ,the tropical paradise island of gems, also known as Ceylon is blessed with the highest concentration of gems on Earth and has a well established traditional gem industry from the time immemorial.

An expedition to this land like no other is a must have experience for anyone involved with gems, jewellery, rocks, lapidary, gemology, geology or mineralogy. A tour to traditional alluvial gem mines, open street gem market and a gemological museum in Rathnapura (The Gem-City) with a professional gemologist will make you complete in your profession.

Even if you are not involved with gems and jewellery but know how to admire the rarest and fascinating objects formed millions of years ago and would like to enjoy a new experience, then the Gem Island tour is for you.

If you’re already in Sri Lanka
You have the opportunity to Learn about Gems and visit the Gemcity with Hirosha.
The Gemstones of Sri Lanka 3hours presentation will enlighten you about the Exquisite & rare Gemstones of this treasure island & The Basic Gemmology course will give you an understanding about the formation of gem minerals, crystals and their physical & optical properties such as Hardness, Cleavage, SG, Refraction, Birefringence(DR), Dichroism, Spectrum & Luminescence. You will also learn about 4c's, gem cuts and gemmological instruments such as 10x Loupe, Polariscope, Dichroscope, Spectroscope, UV Light, Refractometer & Microscope.

Hirosha Yahampath
Hirosha Yahampath is a professional Gemmologist and a third generation link in the gem industry. With his life-time exposure to the gem industry & over a decade of experience in Gemmological consultancy, Hirosha launched Gem Expeditions to take you on a journey through the fascinating world of gemstones.

He obtained the Diploma in Gemmology (Great Britain) and was elected a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 1998. He also holds the Certificate in Gemmology (University of Moratuwa) and qualifications in Marketing & International Trade. Hirosha has conducted many Lectures & presentations in Gemmology over the years and is the author of the first Gemmology book in Sri Lanka (titled; Menik Vidyawa).

Hirosha is the Hony. Treasurer of the Gemmologists Association of Sri Lanka, Asst. Secretary of the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises of Tourism in Sri Lanka and the Former Asst. Secretary of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka. He was a member of the progress & review committee of the Ministry of Policy planning & implementation. (Environmental & Natural resources sector).

The Gemstones of Sri Lanka
The Gemstones of Sri Lanka includes Corundum (Sapphire, Padparadscha, Star Sapphire, Star Ruby, Yellow, Pink & White Sapphires and Geuda), Alexandrite, Cat's eyes, Chrysoberyl, Aquamarine, Quartz, Amethyst, Garnet (Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartine & Hessonite), Spinel, Topaz, Tourmaline, Zircon and Moonstone.

Not only them but rare collector's stones such as Sinhalite, Taaffeite, Ekanite, Andalusite, Iolite, Sapphirine, Diopside, Enstatite, Kornerupine, Sphene, Apatite, Fluorite, Scapolite, Danburite, Fibrolite, Phenakite, Scheelite, Axinite, Dumortierite, Kyanite and Serendibite are found in this treasure chest.

Additionally, those Rare unusual formation of gemstones sometimes found in this island will delight the Collectors

We are thankful to Bonnie & David Smith, Lynnette Wood, Ashan Amarasinghe(At GIC), Jackline Vivez, Amutha Williams & Magareat Raynier for the images .