Banknotes of the Sri Lankan rupee

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The banknotes of the Sri Lanka rupee are part of the physical form of Sri Lanka's currency. The issuance of the rupee banknotes began in 1895.

Contents

The Government of Ceylon introduced its first paper money in the form of the 5 rupee banknote in 1895. These were followed by 10 rupee notes in 1894, 1000 rupee notes in 1899, 50 rupee notes in 1914, 1 and 2 rupee notes in 1917 and 100 and 500 rupee notes in 1926. In 1942, emergency issues for 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents were introduced and issued until 1949.

In 1951, the Central Bank of Ceylon took over the issuance of paper money, introducing 1 and 10 rupee notes. These were followed in 1952 by 2, 5, 50 and 100 rupee notes. The 1 rupee notes were replaced by coins in 1963.

From 1977, banknotes were issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. 20 rupees notes were introduced in 1979, followed by 500 and 1000 rupees in 1981, 200 rupees in 1998 and 2000 rupees in 2006. Sri Lankan banknotes are unusual in that they are printed vertically on the reverse. In 1998, a 200-rupee note was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence (1948–1998). This is the first polymer banknote issued in Sri Lanka, and it was printed by Note Printing Australia. All other denominations are printed by the De la Rue Lanka Currency and Securities Print (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture of the Government of Sri Lanka and De La Rue, a printing company in the United Kingdom.

Banknotes

Private Banks

Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (United East India Company)

Private Series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
1 rix dollar17851785-1786
2 rix dollars
3 rix dollars
4 rix dollars
5 rix dollars
10 rix dollars
20 rix dollars
50 rix dollars
100 rix dollars
200 rix dollars
500 rix dollars

Bank of Ceylon

Private Series 3
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
1 pound1800s
5 pounds
10 pounds
20 pounds

Asiatic Banking Corporation

Private Series 2
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
10 shillingsFlowerFlowerGreen1865
1 pound
5 pounds
10 pounds

Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China, Colombo / Galley / Kandy

Private Series 4
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
5 rupees1867
10 rupees
50 rupees
100 rupees
500 rupees
1000 rupees

Oriental Bank Corporation, Badulla / Colombo / Galley / Jaffna / Kandy / Newera Ellia

Private Series 5
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
5 rupees18691869-1884
10 rupees
50 rupees
100 rupees

Government of Ceylon

Government of Ceylon series, 1885's

Government of Ceylon series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion1 rupeeFlowerFlowerGreen19141930, 1939
"10 rupees"

Government of Ceylon 2nd series, 1930s

Government of Ceylon series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion1 rupeeFlowerFlowerGreen19141930, 1939
"2 rupeeFlower(Blank)
"10 rupees"
"50 rupees

Government of Ceylon 2nd series, 1930s

Government of Ceylon series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion5 centsGreen19141930, 1939
25 cents
50 cents

King George VI series, 1940s

King George VI series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion10 cents George VI 1942
"25 cents""
"50 cents""
"1 rupee"ElephantGreen"
''2 rupee"
"10 rupees"Laxapana Waterfall"
"100 rupees""

Central Bank Of Sri Lanka

King George VI 2nd series, 1951

King George VI 2nd series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion1 rupee George VI Blue1951
"10 rupees""

Queen Elizabeth II series, 1952

Queen Elizabeth II series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion1 rupee Elizabeth II Blue1952
"2 rupees""
, "5 rupees""
"10 rupees""
"50 rupees"Light Blue"
"100 rupees""

Armorial Ensign of Ceylon series, 1956

Armorial Ensign of Ceylon series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion1 rupee Coat of arms Light blue19561956 -1963
"2 rupees"Dark red""
"5 rupees"Bright red""
"10 rupees"Green""
"50 rupees"Blue""
"100 rupees"Olive""

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Portrait series, 1962

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Portrait series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion2 rupees S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 19621962-1965
"5 rupees"""
"10 rupees"Green""
"50 rupees"Purple, light green""
"100 rupees"""

King Parakramabahu Series, 1965

King Parakramabahu Series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
, Sri Lankan Lion2 rupees Parakramabahu I 19651965-1977
, "5 rupees"Orange-Red1969"
, "10 rupees"Green""
, "50 rupees"1967"
, "100 rupees"1965"

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 2nd Series, 1970

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion50 rupees S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Blue1970
"100 rupees"Red"

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 3rd Series, 1971

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike Series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
50 rupeesPurple S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 19711971-1974Sri Lankan Lion
100 rupees"""

Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka series, 1975

Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
50 rupeesLight purple Emblem Terraced hillside26 August 19771977Sri Lankan Lion
100 rupeesLight purple, gray"26 August 197719771975"

Fauna and Flora Series, 1979

Fauna and Flora Series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion2 rupeesFishRed26 March 19791979
"5 rupeesButterfly and LizardPurple""
"10 rupeesGreen""
"20 rupeesBirdBrown""
"50 rupeesBlue""
"100 rupeesOrange""

Historical and Archaeological series, 1981

Historical and Archaeological series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion5 rupeesRed19821 January 1982
"10 rupees Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Green19821 January 1982
1 January 1985
"20 rupeesMoonstonePurple19821 January 1982
1 January 1985
"50 rupeesBlue19821 January 1982
"100 rupeesOrange19821 January 1982
"500 rupeesLight brown19811 January 1981
1 January 1985
"1000 rupeesDamLight green19811 January 1981
1 January 1985

Historical and Development series, 1987

Historical and Development series
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkObverseReverseMain ColorDimensionsFirst IssuedOther Issues
Sri Lankan Lion10 rupees Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Green19871 January 1987
21 November 1988
21 February 1989
5 April 1990
"20 rupeesMoonstonePurple198821 November 1988
21 February 1989
5 April 1990
"50 rupeesBlue198821 November 1988
21 February 1989
5 April 1990
"100 rupeesOrange19871 January 1987
21 November 1988
21 February 1989
5 April 1990
"500 rupeesLight brown19871 January 1987
21 November 1988
21 February 1989
5 April 1990
"1000 rupeesDamPeacock, mountainsLight green19871 January 1987
21 February 1989
5 April 1990

Sri Lanka Heritage series, 1991, 2005

The Heritage Series saw many revisions throughout its life since 1991 up to 2010. The 1995 revision had an enhanced latent image at the center bottom of obverse sides. The 2001 revision added wider metallic strip to the 500 and 1000 rupee notes.

Sri Lanka Heritage series (Series currently in Circulation)
ImageValueDimensionsColorIssued datesWatermark
, , 10 rupeesGreen

1 January 1991
1 July 1992
19 August 1994
15 November 1995
12 December 2001
10 April 2004
1 July 2004
19 November 2005
3 July 2006

A lion holding a sword
, , 20 rupees128 X 63 mmPurple
, , 50 rupeesBlue
, , , 100 rupees143 X 71 mmOrange
, , 500 rupeesLight orange and purple
, , 1000 rupees158 X 79 mmLight green
2000 rupeesOrange and Pink2 November 2005

3 July 2006

Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers series, 2010

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a new series of banknotes on 4 February 2011. The series was designed by two Sri Lankan artists selected from an island-wide competition. The themes of the new notes are Development and Prosperity, and Sri Lankan Dancers. The fronts of the new notes bear artistic impressions of selected development projects in Sri Lanka and native birds and butterflies. The backs depict Sri Lankan traditional dancers and guard stones in a background of a map of Sri Lanka. This new family does not include a 10-rupee note because that denomination was replaced by a coin on 5 April 2010. [1]

Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers (Series currently in Circulation)
ImageValueDimensionsColorIssued datesWatermark
20 rupees128 x 67 mmPink1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Serendib scops owl
50 rupees133 x 67 mmBlue1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Dull-blue flycatcher
100 rupees138 x 67 mmOrange1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Orange-billed babbler
500 rupees143 x 67 mmPurple1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Layard's parakeet
1000 rupees148 x 67 mmGreen1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Sri Lanka Hanging parrot
5000 rupees153 x 67 mmBrown1 January 2010
4 February 2015
Yellow-eared bulbul

On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10 rupee note with a coin. [2]

Commemorative notes

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued five commemorative notes in recognition of significant events of national importance. In 1998 a 200 rupee note was issued on Independence day to commemorate the 50th Independence Anniversary of the country. In 2009 a 1000 rupee note was issued commemorating the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the Ushering of Peace and Prosperity. In 2013 a 500 rupee note was issued for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 held in Sri Lanka.

Commemorative Banknotes of Sri Lanka
ImageValueDescriptionKey Dates
ImageWatermarkPurposeMain ColorDimensionsMaterialFirst IssuedOriginal Design Release
A lion holding a sword200 rupees50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining IndependenceBlue146.5 x 73.0 mmpolymer4 February 1998
A lion holding a sword1000 rupeesThe ushering of peace and prosperity to Sri LankaBlue157 X 78.5 mmpaper20 May 200917 November 2009 [3] [4]
Layard's Parakeet 500 rupees Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 held in Sri LankaPurple143 x 67 mmpaper15 November 2013
Sri Lanka Hanging parrot 1000 rupees70th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining IndependenceGreen148 x 67 mmpaper4 February 2018
A lion holding a sword2000 rupees75th Anniversary of the Central Bank of Sri LankaBlue151 x 67 mmpaper28 August 2025 [5]

See also

References

  1. Linzmayer, Owen (2012). "Sri Lanka". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: BanknoteNews.com.
  2. "Sri Lanka replaces 10-Rupee note with coin". Banknote News. 5 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  3. "Sri Lanka new 1,000-rupee commemorative confirmed". BanknoteNews.com. 19 December 2009.
  4. "Sri Lanka new 1,000-rupee commemorative note (B122a) confirmed – BanknoteNews" . Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  5. "New Rs 2000 note with President AKD's signature released". Newswire. Retrieved 29 August 2025.