By A surge in high-quality sapphire discoveries has attracted hundreds of Sri Lankan gem buyers to Madagascar. They see the opportunity to purchase gems at lower prices here and resell them elsewhere, like Colombo, for significant profits.
Vincent Pardieu, a French gemologist with over a decade of experience visiting Madagascan mines, stated that the recent discovery in Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena surpasses the entire country’s previous 20 years of sapphire findings. He calls it “the most important discovery in Madagascar for the past 20 or 30 years.” Gem shows worldwide now showcase “large, clean sapphires” from the region.
Local officials report that tens of thousands of miners and gem traders have flocked to the rainforests near Bemainty. Sri Lankans, with their prior experience, have an advantage in this market. Madagascar boasts a wide variety of gems, and small roadside shops selling them have sprung up.
“Unlike Sri Lanka, where gems are sold by carat, here they go by the gram, making them much cheaper,” commented a Sri Lankan trader from Rathnapura.
Most Sri Lankan traders operate in the Ilakana area.
Some Sri Lankan traders have chosen to employ local labour. A businessman stated, “We provide the locals with rice and other necessities in exchange for their work in our gem pits.”
Previously, people here weren’t aware of the gem trade. Now, there are about a thousand individuals involved,” a local resident shared.
Profit is not the sole motivator for venturing into countries like Madagascar. The relaxed regulations also play a role, as mentioned by a businessman.
Regall Bai from Mathale is said to be the first Sri Lankan gem trader in Madagascar, initiating the influx two decades ago. Estimates suggest over 2,000 Sri Lankans are currently involved in the Madagascan gem trade.
Sapphires from Madagascar are known for their intense blue colours that can rival the colours of sapphires from other notable sources. These gemstones have a vivid blue color and excellent transparency. Sapphires from Madagascar are much like sapphires from Ceylon in terms of quality. Madagascar also produces pink sapphires.
