RATNAPURA

Ratnapura is Sri Lanka's 'City of Gems' famous for centuries for the priceless sapphires, rubies, cat's - eyes, alexandrite and a host of other precious sones mined there. The mining, cutting and polishing of the precious stones is still largely done in the age - old traditional way. A number of gem museums exhibit good collections of 'rough' and polished precious stones. This is also the heart of Sri Lanka's rubber country and is extremely scenic.