The Precious Stone Trade in Sri Lanka's City of Gems

Blue gemstones sit on a table at a gem store in Ratnapura Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Sri Lankan gem industry has a long history its date back to hundreds of years and played a vital role in the country s economical development. About 200,000 people employed in the gem and jewelry industry including 70,000 gem miners. Sri Lankan Gem, especially Blue Sapphires has highest demand Europe and Middle East. Photographer: Buddhika Weerasinghe

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A dealer examines a gemstone at an open gem market in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

Workers heat gemstones during the geuda heat treatment at a workshop in Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

A worker inspects a rough gemstone while cutting at a workshop in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018

A dealer examines a rough blue sapphire at an open gem market in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018

A dealer examines and checks rough gemstones at an open gem market in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018

Gem miners wash and pan gravel with sifting pans in the Vhay river in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018

Sifting pans sit near a gem mine shaft in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

A shelter stands at a gem mine shaft in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. 

A dealer examines a rough gemstone at an open gem market in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

Workers cut and polish rough gemstones at a workshop in Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. 

Dealers stand and wait for customer at an open gem market in front of the Rajkumar Gems store in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

A miner rests near sifting pans at a gem mine site in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. 

A dealer display blue sapphires for a photograph at a gem store in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.

Rings with precious stones are displayed in a cabinet at a gem store in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.