Sri Lanka Jewellery & Gem Shops: Where to Buy in Colombo and Kandy

Sri Lanka is famous for gemstones, particularly Ceylon blue sapphires, padparadscha sapphires, star sapphires and cat’s eye. LankaMe guests sometimes ask us which shops we recommend when they would like to buy a gemstone during their trip.

Choosing the wrong retailer can mean paying too much for the quality offered, or buying a misrepresented or imitation stone. With limited time between sightseeing stops, it is especially important to choose carefully. This guide explains what to check and introduces licensed jewellers in Colombo and Kandy.

Sri Lanka: an island famous for gemstones

Sri Lanka has long been known as an island of gems. Its internationally admired Ceylon blue sapphires take their name from the country’s former name, Ceylon. Their clear, bright blue appearance makes them popular in engagement rings, necklaces and other jewellery.

Sapphires are not always blue. Sri Lanka also produces pinkish orange padparadscha sapphires, yellow sapphires and star sapphires, whose light effect resembles a star. Cat’s eye, moonstone, garnet, spinel and tourmaline add to the variety visitors can discover.

Ratnapura is a famous gem-producing area, but licensed shops in Colombo and Kandy are often more practical for visitors. They fit easily into a touring itinerary and can explain certificates and warranties. If this is your first jewellery purchase in Sri Lanka, start by discussing your requirements with a reputable retailer.

Well-known Sri Lankan gemstones

• Ceylon blue sapphire
• Padparadscha sapphire
• Star sapphire
• Cat’s eye, moonstone, spinel and more

Be cautious about shops strongly recommended by a driver

Referral commissions can influence recommendations at some gem shops and spice gardens. A driver or guide may receive a payment for bringing visitors to a particular shop, so a recommendation alone is not enough to establish quality or value.

LankaMe shares clear rules with every driver through our local supervisor: guests must not be taken to shops for the purpose of earning kickbacks. The driver regulations below explain our standards.

Some drivers have failed to follow these rules in the past. If a driver persistently encourages you to visit gem shops or spice gardens, contact our support staff or the local driver supervisor whose details we provide before your trip, even while your journey is still under way. We issue strict warnings and have ended contracts with drivers who did not improve.

For guests who want to visit a spice garden, we recommend considering a facility operated by the established Thema Collection group. We prefer this option to visits driven by aggressive sales or referral commissions. Our spice garden guide explains the details.

A practical note about VAT refund paperwork

Some retailers may not fully integrate their sales records with the tourist VAT refund system. LankaMe has encountered cases where paperwork was issued in the shop but the purchase was not properly registered, causing problems when the customer requested a refund at the airport.

To help resolve such issues, a LankaMe driver may photograph VAT refund forms or receipts and retain a copy. This enables us to contact the retailer and ask it to complete the registration if a problem arises.

This administrative step may seem unnecessary to a guest, or could be mistaken for evidence of a commission arrangement. Its purpose is customer support. If you have any concerns, ask our support team to explain what is being recorded and why.

Choose a reputable licensed retailer and confirm the refund process before buying. A gem-dealing licence and participation in the tourist VAT refund scheme are separate checks; do not assume that a licence alone guarantees refund eligibility or proves that no commissions exist.

Buy from a reputable, government-licensed retailer

Stalls and small tourist-oriented shops may offer lower prices, but some goods may be synthetic, imitation or inadequately described. To check authenticity and quality properly, choose a trustworthy gemstone retailer licensed or registered with Sri Lanka’s National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA).

An established licensed retailer should be able to explain the documents available for your purchase, such as a gem report, authenticity certificate or warranty. For an expensive sapphire or piece of jewellery, check the stone type, carat weight, any treatment, the issuing laboratory and the terms for returns or repairs.

Sri Lanka has a Tourist VAT Refund Scheme (TVRS). The tax authority describes a process involving eligible VAT purchases above the required threshold at an authorised retailer, a prescribed invoice, and an application at the TVRS counter at Bandaranaike International Airport on departure. Conditions can change: ask the shop about current eligibility and required documents before paying.

What to check before buying

Recommended jewellers in Colombo and Kandy

These shops are convenient stops on a sightseeing route and can be checked against NGJA’s published registration list. There is no need to rush a purchase. Compare the stone, certificate, warranty, price and any VAT refund arrangements calmly.

NGJA’s published list includes older registrations. Confirm the current licence, address and opening hours before visiting.

Colombo: Upali Premadasa Gems

Premadasa & Co. Jewellers, also known as Upali Premadasa Gems, is one option to consider in Colombo. Tripadvisor lists its address as 560 Galle Road, Colombo. Located in Colombo 3, it is relatively accessible from major city hotels.

This long-established jeweller began in Colombo Fort in 1960 and expanded alongside the tourism industry. Lanka Information describes the opening of its Kollupitiya head showroom in 1995 and the development of the business under J. G. Upali Senarath Premadasa. NGJA’s registration list also includes Premadasa & Co Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd at a Galle Road address in Colombo 3.

It is a useful option for visitors who would like to view Sri Lankan sapphires and jewellery in an established showroom. Before buying an expensive item, discuss the gem report, VAT refund documentation, payment methods and requirements for taking your purchase home.

Kandy: Tiesh by Lakmini

Tiesh by Lakmini Jewelry is another option in Kandy. Tripadvisor lists it as a shopping attraction at 676 Peradeniya Road, Kandy. NGJA’s registration list includes Lakmini (Pvt) Ltd at the same Peradeniya Road address.

Tiesh offers an introduction to the gem industry as well as a jewellery showroom. Visitor reviews describe a documentary about mining, a mock mine, museum displays, demonstrations of cutting and polishing, and opportunities to see jewellery being made. The visit normally ends in the showroom; some reviewers say they did not feel pressured to buy, although individual experiences can vary.

It can fit into a Kandy sightseeing day, and may also interest travellers who simply want to learn about Sri Lanka’s gemstone culture. If you decide to buy a sapphire or other jewellery, check the certificate, warranty and VAT refund eligibility just as carefully as you would in Colombo.

In summary

Sri Lanka is home to internationally admired gemstones, including Ceylon blue sapphires. Tourist-oriented shopping can also involve commission arrangements or quality disputes. Avoid accepting persistent sales recommendations without making your own checks.

Choose a reputable licensed shop and examine the certificate, warranty and VAT refund documents. Upali Premadasa Gems in Colombo and Tiesh by Lakmini in Kandy are options to consider. If you would like a gem-shop stop during a LankaMe trip, we can help incorporate a suitable store into your itinerary and clarify the arrangements with you.

NGJA registration list · Official tourist VAT refund information