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Gem of a work
By L.B.Senaratne
Sri Lanka has been famous for her precious stones since the times of our ancient kings. Gemstones are said to bring beneficial powers to the wearer. In fact every invader to this country has had their eye on our mineral deposits, especially gemstones.

But, the market for gems at times varies and so most gem merchants have diversified into making other ornaments studded with gemstones. Now gems, both precious and semi-precious are being used in the creation of pictures. Gamini Aturupane of Lakland Gems in Kandy, the man behind this interesting concept says he had been experimenting and finding avenues to diversify the selling of gemstones over the past four years.

His pictures are first sketched and then a solvent is used and about ten precious or semi precious stones placed on the picture. Some of the pictures are done using splintered gemstones. The splintering is done by heating the gems in a furnace to the required temperature.What follows is a painstaking process, sometimes taking weeks. Aturupane has a number of young men understudying him. The process is patented and he feels there could be a good market for this unique form of art.

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