Karawwa is a village in the town of Kahawatta in Ratnapura District in Sri Lanka.

It is a branch of Kalu ganga which is considered to be one of the four main rivers in Sri Lanka.

Karawwa is one of the main areas where gem mining takes place.

Gem miners dig a basic pit of 10 to 15 feet in diameter until they find the strips of "illam" (the special stratum of soil, in which precious stones are liable to be found).

After all the illams have been taken off the mine is refilled with soil, but donas remain and make the area dangerous.