Sri Lanka Shopping

Shop for gems, especially sapphires, moonstone and cats-eye. Other items to look for include hand-woven textiles, sarongs, fabrics, brassware, wood carvings, handmade lace (in Galle), ceremonial masks (in Ambalangoda), ceramic drinking gourds, batiks, bronze and tea. (Tea varies in quality, so if you are buying in bulk, ask for a tasting.) Do not buy any souvenirs made of coral - creation of these items contributes to the destruction of the reefs. In Colombo, a store called Barefoot sells a huge assortment of products made from brightly colored, hand-woven, naturally-dyed fabric. It's expensive by Sri Lankan standards, but the quality of the work justifies the expense. Do not buy gems as an investment or with the idea that you'll make a lot of money reselling them when you return home - unless you know a lot about gems. Otherwise, you'll be lucky to break even. Gems are best purchased in Colombo, where prices are better and it's easier to get the stones evaluated. Beware of the rare brown cat's eye - it might be highly radiated to produce or accentuate the color. The Sri Lankan Gem and Jewelry Exchange in Colombo has a gem-testing laboratory, as does the Assay Office of the National Gem and Jewelry Authority. The merchants in the exchange will bargain with you and appear to accept the findings of the gem-testing lab. (It's a free service for foreigners.) If a tout or guide brings you into a shop, you will usually end up paying more. Shop owners raise their prices to pay the tout's commission for bringing you there. Bargaining is expected, especially outside of government shops. Souvenir shopping in government-operated stores, using hard currency, is a tame experience. Go out and bargain with the local merchants: They are good-natured and sometimes loud, but the encounter is often a better souvenir than the item purchased.