IIG South is an exemplary teaching institute providing unprecedented hands-on learning and skill development opportunities for students. One such recent event was the Institute’s student study tour delegation to the Rathnapura mines in Sri Lanka.
The delegation started the tour on a very exciting note. They started the tour on day 1 by visiting Kandy, a famous tourist spot, followed by an insightful visit to the gemstone market – Beruwala on day 2. The delegation received the utmost hospitality and warmth from M Rifkan Bary, the owner of Ceylon. Connect, and Mr. Mzm Azhar, a partner at Beauty Gems. The students received personal guidance and shared valuable information on various topics while enjoying a delicious lunch at Mr. Azhar’s home. He also offered a precious Memento with a map print of Sri Lanka and studded stones. The delegation then visited the famous EG Lab which was an enriching experience to learn more about the different lab instruments and Gemstone certifications.
Day 3 began with the most-awaited visit to the famous mining area of Rathnapura, located in a remote part of the country. Overcoming the challenges of adverse weather conditions, the delegation traveled to the mine site and gathered immense knowledge about the stones. The tour continued to a small-scale mining area for Sri Gems, a local company that implemented traditional mining methods with limited resources. It was a truly enriching experience for the students to witness traditional mining operations and processes. The day ended on a successful note with a visit to the Cyelush mining area, who collects some of Ceylon’s most coveted and rare sapphires.
This tour allowed students to witness different colors of sapphire rough materials that produced quality stones. Some of the shafts in this well-managed mine were nearly 15 to 20 feet deep and that was an adventure for the delegation! Cyelush Mines gave them a hand on experience of seeing a sapphire shaft mining system up close.
After a successful & restless day, the delegation spent some quality free time the next day visiting some of the country’s beautiful beaches and enjoyed the sporting rides. The last day offered the delegation a visit to the Gem Museum in Colombo. It provided an excellent insight into the gemstone world and in particular the Sri Lankan gemstone industry. Finally, they took a night flight on the same day to return to Bengaluru.
The visit was an amazing opportunity for students to experience the world of gemstones in a unique way and up close! Thanks to the institute’s unwavering fervor and dedication they never fail to deliver excellence in all aspects of their student’s development.
Socrates’ quote “Wisdom begins with wonder” is rightly realized by IIG South giving every opportunity to their passionate students!
