Sabaragamuwa Province

Sabaragamuwa is a lush, tropical province famous for two main things: gems and Adam’s Peak. Ratnapura is literally translated to “City of Gems” and is the center of Sri Lanka’s gem mining industry (producing sapphires, rubies, and topazes). The province is also home to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), a towering mountain sacred to multiple religions, which draws thousands of pilgrims and hikers, especially during the pilgrimage season from December to May. It also contains parts of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot.