Rathnapura
Ratnapura, known as the "City of Gems" in Sinhala and Tamil, is a significant urban center located in south-central Sri Lanka. It serves as the capital city of both the Sabaragamuwa Province and the Ratnapura District, and has long been a hub for the Sri Lankan gem trade. The city derives its name from the Sanskrit words "ratna" (gemstone) and "pura" (town), meaning "city of gems".
More than 2,000 years ago, the first Buddhist monks arrived in Ratnapura from northeastern provinces of India, such as Bodh-Gaya, Varanasi, and Pataliputra. They brought with them the Buddhist religion and influenced the local language, which has since been heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Pali. Although candy produced from the jaggery palm is traditionally known in the region as "ratnapura", it is more likely that the candy was named after the locale rather than the other way around.
Ratnapura has a long-established industry of precious stone mining, which includes rubies, sapphires, and other gems....
More than 2,000 years ago, the first Buddhist monks arrived in Ratnapura from northeastern provinces of India, such as Bodh-Gaya, Varanasi, and Pataliputra. They brought with them the Buddhist religion and influenced the local language, which has since been heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Pali. Although candy produced from the jaggery palm is traditionally known in the region as "ratnapura", it is more likely that the candy was named after the locale rather than the other way around.
Ratnapura has a long-established industry of precious stone mining, which includes rubies, sapphires, and other gems....
