№ 01 — Ratnapura, Sri Lanka · 6°40'58.1"N 80°23'57.1"E
Ceylon Sapphires · Family Mined · Ratnapura

Ceylon sapphires,
from our family mines
to the world.

Family-owned mining operations in Sri Lanka's Ratnapura region, offering direct-source sapphires, alexandrite, chrysoberyl, spinel, and one-of-one stones to collectors, jewelers, dealers, and high jewelry houses.

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Heritage
75+ Years

Family mining knowledge in Sri Lanka's sapphire fields.

Origin
Ratnapura

Operating in the Pathakada and Pelmadulla region, one of Sri Lanka's historic gem-producing areas.

Access
Direct

Stones sourced through our own mining operations and trusted local partners.

Stones
Unique

Blue sapphires, fancy sapphires, chrysoberyl, alexandrite, spinel, and unusual one-of-one stones.

Our Story · Pelmadulla, Sri Lanka

From the Source. Sri Lanka’s Sapphire Country

Weliwatta Mining Co. gives collectors, jewelers, dealers, and high jewelry houses a direct connection to Sri Lanka’s gem fields — from active mining sites in the Ratnapura region to carefully selected rough and polished stones.

Some come to us for exceptional Ceylon sapphires. Others come for alexandrite, chrysoberyl, spinel, and unusual one-of-one stones. But the reason serious buyers stay close is traceability: direct access to the source, insight into how stones are recovered, and a partner with a real family history in the ground.

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The Mines · Documented at the Source

See the work behind the stones.

Our mining operations sit in the Ratnapura district, where sapphire-bearing gravels have produced some of Sri Lanka's most remarkable colored stones. Through field footage, visitors can see the work behind each recovery: active mining, gravel washing, hand sorting, rough evaluation, and the people behind the process. For serious buyers and partners, this is not a marketing tour — it is a way to understand origin, recovery, handling, and responsible practices from the ground up.

Play · At the source
Chapter 01 · The Sapphire Valley

The Sapphire Valley.

00:16
00:16 01 · The Sapphire Valley
00:55 02 · Sorting
00:41 03 · Polishing a 20+ct Alex
00:41 04 · The Gravel Bed Excavation
03:06 05 · Excavator Relay
Archive of Past Finds

Archive of Past Finds.

A small archive of defining stones our family has pulled from the gravels of Pathakada, Pelmadulla, and the surrounding Ratnapura region over the last two decades. These pieces are part of our record — reference points for the scale, color, and character our ground has produced.

Featured · 1994 · Pelmadulla

The 1,256 ct Royal Blue Sapphire.

Recovered in August 1994 from the Pelmadulla pit by our founding father. The defining stone in our family's mining history, and the standard against which we measure every recovery since.

Weight
1,256 ct
Origin
Pelmadulla
Year
1994
Status
Archive
ChrysoberylArchive · 2018

Alexandrite

40.44 ctSannasgama
Fancy SapphireArchive · 2021

Pristine Golden Yellow

33 ctSannasgama
Blue SapphireArchive · 2006

The Pointed Blue

114.6 ctGanegama
Blue SapphireArchive · 2024

Smooth London Blue

104.3 ctPathakada
ChrysoberylArchive · 2022

Cat's-eye

198 ctPathakada
Blue SapphireArchive · 2017

Cornflower Blue Beauty

108 ctRatnapura

Archive stones are shown as part of our family record and are not presented as current inventory. Current availability changes privately. Serious buyers may inquire for selected rough, polished stones, and upcoming material.

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Mine to Market · Six Steps

Every step,
accounted for.

Because our work begins at the mines, we can offer buyers a direct connection to origin. From recovery and sorting to cutting, certification, and private sale, we preserve the story and the value of each important stone.

Step 01

Mining

Recovery from gem-bearing gravel in the Ratnapura region, by miners who know the land and understand the character of the deposit.

Step 02

Sorting

Careful separation and first-pass evaluation of rough material from each recovery, with attention to color, crystal, clarity, and potential.

Step 03

Planning

Study of color, orientation, silk, inclusions, yield, and cutting strategy before important rough is shaped.

Step 04

Cutting

Selected stones are cut to preserve beauty, weight, and the natural character of the rough.

Step 05

Certification

Important stones can be submitted to respected gem laboratories, with treatment disclosure and documentation prepared for serious buyers.

Step 06

Private Sale

Offered discreetly to collectors, jewelers, dealers, and high jewelry houses, with origin context, documentation, and export support where required.

Stewardship · Of Land & Water

Keeping the water clear. Restoring the land after the work.

Our washing process is designed to reduce runoff and keep silt-laden water contained. Water is held, settled, and re-circulated through the worksite instead of being released directly into nearby waterways. When a pit is worked out, the land is back-filled, re-contoured, and replanted where possible. Responsible mining also means caring for the people involved: experienced local miners, fair working conditions, safer site practices, and respect for landowners and the surrounding community.

Field Film · The Wash Loop

How we mine without muddying the river.

00:00
— Visit the Mines —

Come see where the stones
come from. In person, in Ratnapura.

Private mine site visits are available by appointment for serious buyers, jewelry houses, trade partners, gem students, collectors, and sourcing relationships. The pits run on their own rhythm, so visits are scheduled around the day's work, site safety, weather, and active operations. Message us with your dates, number of visitors, reason for visit, and stone interests, and we will confirm what is possible.

Please include
  • Dates in Sri Lanka
  • Number of visitors
  • Buyer / trade / student / collector / partner
  • Stone interests
  • Any special sourcing goals
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