Gems From A Rice Paddy

Although Sri Lanka is a modern country, the methods of mining and processing of her buried treasures--sapphires, rubies, topazes and Singhalese moonstones--have remained unchanged for thousands of years. The stones are found principally in Ratnapura, a few yards below vegetable gardens and rice paddies. The water of the rice paddies is drained. The sand is lifted out and washed. In Ratnapura every second or third house contains a gem processing plant. The gems, rings, and necklaces made in Ratnapura and Colombo are imaginative and distinctive. The film provides the student with an overview of life in modern Sri Lanka while focusing on a process that reflects the country's ancient cultural heritage.

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Sources

  1. 16mm Filmography (legacy record) — title, year, creator, length, format, description, catalog record