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Sri Lanka’s Hazardous Gem Mines: Miners Risk Lives for Precious Stones
Deep beneath the surface of Sri Lanka lie underground mines harboring some of the globe’s most valuable gemstones. Every day, courageous miners venture into these perilous tunnels, risking their lives in pursuit of hidden riches, including blue sapphires, rubies, garnet, and topaz. The Sri Lankan gemstone sector boasts a 2,500-year history, yet the pursuit of these treasures is fraught with danger. Mines, often supported by simple log structures, constantly threaten collapse.
Decades of Dedication Amidst Danger
Despite the inherent risks, many miners have dedicated decades to this demanding profession. Samaranayakege Telakaratna, a miner with over 50 years of experience, stated, “Our ultimate objective is to unearth a precious stone. Therefore, we persevere and exert our maximum effort.” However, the reality of gem mining is that discoveries are far from guaranteed, often leaving miners with meager returns for their arduous labor.
Ratnapura: The Heart of Sri Lanka’s Gemstone Industry
Ratnapura, known as the island’s “gemstone capital,” is where Samaranayakege has resided throughout his life. He explains the limited options available to the community: “There is no alternative means of sustenance for us here. Even individuals with education are engaged in mining due to the scarcity of suitable employment opportunities.”
Daily Perils and Precarious Conditions
Miners commence their lengthy workdays by preparing betel leaf and tobacco, which they chew for a boost of energy before descending into mining pits, some plunging as deep as 40 feet. Their only means of ascent and descent are “precarious” wooden poles, susceptible to decay and breakage.
Flooding and Collapse Risks
Compounding the danger, the mines’ proximity to a river frequently leads to intrusions of water, sand, and soil, further destabilizing the tunnels. The rainy season exacerbates these conditions, causing more frequent flooding and increasing the likelihood of tunnel collapses. A grim reminder of these hazards is the 2015 mine collapse in Ratnapura that tragically claimed four lives.
Mitigation Attempts and Environmental Hazards
Miners attempt to reinforce the unstable pits by using logs from rubber trees and kekilla plants to prevent sand ingress, offering minimal protection against collapses.
Oxygen Deprivation and Methane Gas
Within the tunnels, miners face the challenge of oxygen scarcity, making breathing difficult. Furthermore, the presence of methane, a flammable greenhouse gas produced in the mines, introduces the constant threat of subterranean fires. “When methane is present, it can ignite. The gas itself makes respiration labored, and loss of consciousness can occur,” the miner revealed.
Disparity in Wealth and Labor
Despite these numerous hazards, miners frequently haul bags of gravel, weighing dozens of pounds, to the surface, only to find stones of negligible value. This backbreaking work often yields a meager basic salary of 1,200 rupees, approximately £3, barely sufficient to purchase a gallon of milk.
Unequal Distribution of Profits
The private ownership of the mines means that any discovered gems must be surrendered to the owners, who then sell them to intermediaries. This system perpetuates a stark wealth gap between the miners who endure life-threatening conditions and the affluent mine proprietors.
High Value of Sri Lankan Sapphires
A single-carat blue sapphire from Sri Lanka can fetch prices ranging from $450 to $1,600 (£355 to £1237). The world’s largest blue sapphire, unearthed in Ratnapura in 2016, is valued at a staggering $300 million (£231 million), highlighting the immense potential wealth generated by these mines.
Miners’ Reality vs. Owners’ Luxury
Samaranayakege poignantly summarizes the imbalance: “A mining laborer may lack a substantial dwelling, or even any residence at all. In contrast, gem traders possess multi-story mansions and lead opulent existences,” starkly illustrating the economic disparity inherent in Sri Lanka’s gemstone industry.