Meetiyagoda - a major tourist attraction

by W.T.J.S. Kaviratne-Ambalangoda Spl Cor

From time immemorial Sri Lanka has been enjoying a prestigious position throughout the world as a country rich in numerous varieties of invaluable rare gems, precious and semi-precious stones having different pigments.

Blue Sapphires, Yellow Sapphires, Alexandrite, Zircon or Tourmaline, Star Ruby, Star Sapphires, Amethyst, Garnets,Topaz or Quartz and Moonstones are some of the gems found scattered mostly in marshy lands and on river beds all over in Sri Lanka.

Historical records of Sri Lanka that date back to the prehistoric eras reveal that present day Sri Lanka known by many other names in the past was a much sought after country for its gems, ivory and spices.

The earliest reference to Sri Lankan gems was made about the gift of gems presented to Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C. by the King Devanampiya Tissa.

Almost all ancient explorers and sailors who reached the shores of Sri Lanka never forgot to narrate accounts on the gems of the country mingled with the vivid descriptions of the nature's beauty and the exotic charm they had experienced just after their strenuous expeditions and explorations into the hinterland of Sri Lanka.

Marco Polo referring to gems of Sri Lanka had revealed that the country was rich in Sapphires, Topaz and Amethysts. Ptolemy, the second century astronomer, had recorded that Sri Lanka was rich in Beryl and Sapphires. In addition , Sind Bad the Sailor and Fa- Hsien in the 5th century A.D. were two other explorers who had made written records on Sri Lankan gems. Islamic scholar and sailor Ibn Battuta (1344) and Robert Knox the English sailor held captive for 19 years (1660-1679)in Sri Lanka had also referred to the rich diversity of gems and precious stones of Sri Lanka. The Persian traders also set sail to Sri Lanka seeking gems. Crowns of Kings and Queens of the Roman Empire were also adorned with Sri Lankan gems.

Wooed

According to oft-quoted saying that King Solomon had wooed Queen Sheba by giving her a set of jewellery adorned with Sri Lankan gems could be a legend but it shows that Sri Lankan gems had enjoyed a great reputation of universal ramifications. The engagement ring of Diana given by Prince Charles was adorned with a Blue Sapphire.

Moonstones were not considered a valuable gem at all by the neighbours of Domanwila or Meetiyagoda till the arrival of Muslim merchants from Galle to purchase kaolin.

Moonstone is a very rare variety of a gem found only at a tiny hamlet known as Domanwila at Meetiyagoda in the Ambalangoda divisional secretariat area in the Galle district of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Even though there are other varieties of moonstones in India and few other countries the best quality of moonstones are found only at Domanwila and Meetiyagoda. Domanwila at Meetiyagoda is between Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa tourist resort.

Even at Domanwila, moonstones are found only in a marshy stretch of land having an extent of four hectares.

Originally the land stretch had been mined for kaolin and graphite.

Even at present kaolin is supposed to be the best quality available in Sri Lanka is mined at Domanwila Meetiyagoda for the production of the quality ceramic ware.

During the distant past, moonstones were found in great abundance on the top soil mixed with kaolin(Makulu) at Domanwila marsh . People in the village or in the surrounding areas were completely unaware of the value of the glistening variety of mineral. They did not consider these stones as a kind of rare gems and used them to adorn their compounds and front gardens.

The kaolin used as the chief raw material in the production of ceramic ware was then known by the people in the area by the name Makulu. The villagers used the pure white variety of high quality clay to whitewash their houses. With the arrival of Muslim merchants from Galle, to collect kaolin then known as Makulu found the moonstones in abundance at Domanwila. They on trial basis cut and polished the raw moonstones and kept them in their show rooms along with the gems.

Foreign holiday makers who visited Galle gem and jewellery shops found the moonstones emanating a milk bluish sheen quite similar to moon beams. Gradually there ensued a ready market for moonstones specially among German nationals who frequented Sri Lanka then in large numbers.

Generations

For many generations the land stretch had been mined to obtain moonstones continuously almost on daily basis except on rainy seasons. Moonstones gradually became very popular among the Europeans and they never forget to make a tour to Domavila marsh at Meetiyagoda to gather first hand experience on the process how moonstones are mined, separated from kaolin, sand and gravel, washed and polished.

First by word of mouth moonstones and mines at Domanwila became world famous. With the boom of tourist industry in Sri Lanka even in tourist brochures and tour maps published by the Sri Lankan Tourist Board and overseas travel agents, moonstone mines at Domanwila, Meetiyagoda secured a prominent place.

Moonstone mining as usual is done in the traditional manner quite similar to the gem mining found in the rest of the country.

The raw moonstones mixed with kaolin, sand and gravel are mined deep down in the pit.

Inside a gem pit there are several branches of the tunnel spreading into many directions.

Expert miners backed by many years of experience collect the ore mixed up with kaolin, sand and numerous varieties of minerals sent up using a huge bucket. The ore is washed and the pieces of raw moonstones are traced. The experienced technicians excelled on lapidary polish the raw moonstones using the traditional rolling machines or modern electronic machines.

As the name suggests, people in the area believe that the moon has an attraction towards the moonstones. Still the people dealing in moonstone business at Domanwila believe that the moonstones are formed due to the influence of the moon . With the continuous mining of the land stretch now moonstones are found at a depth of about 10 - 40 metres. The moonstone miners say when the gem pit reaches the depth of the sea level it has reached the depth where the moonstone layers are found.

Moonstones are found mixed up with kaolin and other kinds of minerals such as topaz and quartz.

Moonstones are found in two pigments of blue and white and due to heavy demand blue moonstones fetch over several lakhs of rupees.

Protected

People believe that those who wear moonstones are protected from lunacy and moonstones have the mystic powers to dispel the influence of evil spirits and harmful effects of planets.

In and around Domanwila and Meetiyagoda several shops approved by the State Gem Corporation came into existence dealing in moonstones and moonstone embedded gold and silver jewellery. when the tourist season begins the Domanwila becomes a hive of activities.

Though hundreds of tourists visit the moonstone factories almost daily, moonstone shop owners have a common complaint that the present day tourists reaching Sri Lanka are not keen on spending much money on gems and jewellery.