Sri Lankan rupee
Encyclopedia
The rupee (sign
: ₨; code
: LKR) is the currency
of Sri Lanka
, divided into 100 cent
s. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
and is generally written Rs. (though SLRs. may occasionally be used for disambiguation).
became Ceylon's official money of account in 1825, replacing the Ceylonese rixdollar
at a rate of 1 pound = 13⅓ rixdollars, and British silver coin was made legal tender. Treasury notes denominated in pounds were issued in 1827, replacing the earlier rixdollar notes. Rixdollar notes not presented for exchange were demonetized in June 1831.
The Indian rupee
was made Ceylon's standard coin 26 September 1836, and Ceylon reverted to the Indian currency area. Pound-denominated treasury notes continued to circulate after 1836, along with the rupee. The legal currency remained British silver and accounts were kept in pounds, shillings and pence. However, payments were made in rupees and annas at the "fictitious par" (fixed accounting rate) of 2 shillings per rupee (i.e., 1 pound = 10 rupees).
The Bank of Ceylon was the first private bank to issue banknotes on the island (1844) and Treasury notes were withdrawn in 1856.
The Indian rupee was formally established as the unlimited legal tender 18 June 1869. The rupee was decimalized 23 August 1871. Thus, the rupee of 100 cents became Ceylon's money of account and sole legal tender effective 1 January 1872, replacing British currency at a rate of 1 rupee = 2 shilling
s 3 pence.
Between 1940 and 1944, a wholesale change in the coinage was carried out. Production of the ½ cent ceased in 1940, with bronze 1 cent introduced in 1942. Nickel-brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 cents in the same year and replaced silver in the 25 and 50 cents in 1943. In 1944, nickel-brass, scalloped shaped 2 and 10 cents coins were introduced.
In 1963, a new coinage was introduced which omitted the monarchs portrait. Coins issued were aluminium 1 and 2 cents, nickel brass 5 and 10 cents and cupro-nickel 25 and 50 cents and 1 rupee. In 1978, aluminium replaced nickel-brass in the 5 and 10 cents. Cupro-nickel 2 rupees and aluminium-bronze 5 rupees coins were introduced in 1984.
The obverse of the coins issued since 1963 carry the Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka. The reverse of the coin the value in numerals and in Sinhala, Tamil
and English
below and year of issue at the bottom with SRI LANKA in Sinhala on top. On 14 December 2005, the Sri Lanka central bank issued a new series of coins in the denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 rupees. The lower denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 cents, although legal tender, are not seen in circulation and not in general issued by banks.
The observe and reverse designs of the new coins remained identical to the existing circulating coins of the same denominations. However their weights and alloys have been changed for easy identification purposes.
On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10-rupee note with a coin.
On December 15, 2010, to mark the 60th Anniversary, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a Frosted Proof crown size multi-colour silver commemorative coin in the denomination of Rupees 5000. It was the first multi-colour coin issued by the Central Bank.
Commemorative coins issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:
In 1895, the Government of Ceylon introduced its first paper money in the form of 5 rupee notes. 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. The 200 rupee note is printed on a polymer substrate. Banknotes 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
. In 2011, a series is to be issued to commemorate the country's 60th anniversary.
On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10 rupee note with a coin.
Currency sign
A currency sign is a graphic symbol used as a shorthand for a currency's name, especially in reference to amounts of money. They typically employ the first letter or character of the currency, sometimes with minor changes such as ligatures or overlaid vertical or horizontal bars...
: ₨; code
ISO 4217
ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...
: LKR) is the currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, divided into 100 cent
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
s. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary authority of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1950, two years after independence. The founder governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was John Exter, while the minister of finance at the time was J.R...
and is generally written Rs. (though SLRs. may occasionally be used for disambiguation).
History
The British poundPound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
became Ceylon's official money of account in 1825, replacing the Ceylonese rixdollar
Ceylonese rixdollar
The rixdollar was the currency of British Ceylon until 1828. It was subdivided into 48 stivers, each of 4 duit. Units called the fanam and larin were also used, worth 4 and 9½ stiver, respectively. The currency derived from the Dutch rijksdaalder and stuiver, although the rijksdaalder was worth 50...
at a rate of 1 pound = 13⅓ rixdollars, and British silver coin was made legal tender. Treasury notes denominated in pounds were issued in 1827, replacing the earlier rixdollar notes. Rixdollar notes not presented for exchange were demonetized in June 1831.
The Indian rupee
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
was made Ceylon's standard coin 26 September 1836, and Ceylon reverted to the Indian currency area. Pound-denominated treasury notes continued to circulate after 1836, along with the rupee. The legal currency remained British silver and accounts were kept in pounds, shillings and pence. However, payments were made in rupees and annas at the "fictitious par" (fixed accounting rate) of 2 shillings per rupee (i.e., 1 pound = 10 rupees).
The Bank of Ceylon was the first private bank to issue banknotes on the island (1844) and Treasury notes were withdrawn in 1856.
The Indian rupee was formally established as the unlimited legal tender 18 June 1869. The rupee was decimalized 23 August 1871. Thus, the rupee of 100 cents became Ceylon's money of account and sole legal tender effective 1 January 1872, replacing British currency at a rate of 1 rupee = 2 shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s 3 pence.
Coins
In 1872, copper ¼, ½, 1 and 5 cents coins dated 1870 were introduced, followed in 1892 by silver 10, 25 and 50 cents. Production of the ¼ cent ceased in 1904. The large, copper 5 cents coins was replaced in 1909 by a much smaller cupro-nickel coin which was square with rounded corners. In 1919, the fineness of silver used was reduced from .800 to .550.Between 1940 and 1944, a wholesale change in the coinage was carried out. Production of the ½ cent ceased in 1940, with bronze 1 cent introduced in 1942. Nickel-brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 cents in the same year and replaced silver in the 25 and 50 cents in 1943. In 1944, nickel-brass, scalloped shaped 2 and 10 cents coins were introduced.
In 1963, a new coinage was introduced which omitted the monarchs portrait. Coins issued were aluminium 1 and 2 cents, nickel brass 5 and 10 cents and cupro-nickel 25 and 50 cents and 1 rupee. In 1978, aluminium replaced nickel-brass in the 5 and 10 cents. Cupro-nickel 2 rupees and aluminium-bronze 5 rupees coins were introduced in 1984.
The obverse of the coins issued since 1963 carry the Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka. The reverse of the coin the value in numerals and in Sinhala, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
below and year of issue at the bottom with SRI LANKA in Sinhala on top. On 14 December 2005, the Sri Lanka central bank issued a new series of coins in the denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 rupees. The lower denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 cents, although legal tender, are not seen in circulation and not in general issued by banks.
The observe and reverse designs of the new coins remained identical to the existing circulating coins of the same denominations. However their weights and alloys have been changed for easy identification purposes.
On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10-rupee note with a coin.
| Current Coins of Sri Lanka | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Obverse | Reverse | Metal | Dimensions | Weight | Thickness | Year |
 |
25 cents | Country name, date and value | Armorial Ensign | Copper plated Steel | 16.0 mm | 1.68 g | 1.2 mm | 2005 |
 |
50 cents | 18.0 mm | 2.5 g | 1.4 mm | ||||
 |
One rupee | Brass plated Steel | 20.0 mm | 3.65 g | 1.7 mm | |||
 |
Two rupees | Nickel-plated Steel | 28.5 mm | 7.0 g | 1.5 mm | |||
 |
Five rupees | Brass plated Steel | 23.5 mm | 7.7 g | 2.7 mm | |||
| Ten rupees | Nickel-plated Steel | 26.4 mm (Hendecagon Hendecagon In geometry, a hendecagon is an 11-sided polygon.... ) |
8.36 g | 2.1 mm | 2009 |
Commemorative coins
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued commemorative coins since 1957.On December 15, 2010, to mark the 60th Anniversary, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a Frosted Proof crown size multi-colour silver commemorative coin in the denomination of Rupees 5000. It was the first multi-colour coin issued by the Central Bank.
Commemorative coins issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:
| Commemorative Coins of Sri Lanka | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value(Rs.) | Description | Obverse | Reserve | Diameter/Size (mm) | Metal | Weight(Grams) | Year |
 |
5 | 2500th Anniversary of the passing away of Buddha (Buddha Gautama Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian... Jayanthi) |
38.61 | Silver (0.925) | 28.28 | 1957 | ||
| 1 | 2500th Anniversary of the passing away of Buddha (Buddha Gautama Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian... Jayanthi) |
28.50 | Copper Nickel |
11.31 | 1957 | |||
| 2 | 2nd World Food Congress | 31.50 | CopperNickel | 12.35 | 1968 | |||
| 5 | 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference | 32.84 | Nickel | 13.60 | 1976 | |||
| 2 | 5th Non-Aligned Summit Conference | 30.00 | CopperNickel | 13.50 | 1976 | |||
| 1 | 1st Executive Presidency (J. R. Jayawardhane) | 24.50 | CopperNickel | 7.13 | 1978 | |||
| 1 | 1st Executive Presidency (J. R. Jayawardhane) | 24.50 | Gold22 Caret | 12.00 | 1978 | |||
| 5 | 50 Years of Universal Adult Franchise | 29.0 / 30.28 | CopperNickel | 9.60 | 1981 | |||
| 2 | The Mahaweli Development Scheme | 28.50 | CopperNickel | 8.25 | 1981 | |||
| 5 | International Year of Shelter for the Homeless | 25.0 - 30.0 | CopperNickel | 11.70 | 1987 | |||
 |
500 | 40th Anniversary of Central Bank of Sri Lanka | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 1990 | ||
 |
100 | 5th South Asian Federation Games - Colombo | 22.0 - 29.4 | Silver | 10.20 | 1991 | ||
 |
500 | 5th South Asian Federation Games - Colombo | 14 | Gold 12 Caret |
1.6 | 1991 | ||
 |
1 | 3rd Anniversary of Induction of Excective Presidency - R. Premadasa | 25.40 | CopperNickel | 7.13 | 1992 | ||
 |
500 | 2300 Anubudu Mihindu Jayanthi | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 1993 | ||
 |
5 | 50th Anniversary, United Nations | 23.50 | Ni / Br | 9.50 | 1995 | ||
| 5000 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining Independence | 22.05 | Gold (22 Caret) | 7.98 | 1998 | |||
| 1000 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining Independence | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 1998 | |||
| 10 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining Independence | Outer ring 27.0 Inner disc 18.0 | Bi Metal Outer ring Cu/Ni Inner dics Ni/Br | 9.00 | 1998 | |||
 |
1000 | Wining of the 1996 Cricket World Cup | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 1999 | ||
 |
5 | Wining of the 1996 Cricket World Cup | 23.50 | Ni / Br | 9.50 | 1999 | ||
 |
1 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Army | 25.40 | Nickel plated Steel | 7.13 | 1999 | ||
 |
1000 | 50th Anniversary Central Bank of Sri Lanka | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 2000 | ||
 |
1000 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining Independence | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 1998 | ||
 |
1 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy | 25.40 | Cu-Ni | 7.13 | 2000 | ||
| 1 | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Air Force | 25.40 | Cu / Ni | 7.13 | 2000 | |||
| 2 | 50th Anniversary of the Colombo Plan | 28.50 | Cu / Ni | 8.25 | 2000 | |||
| 5 | 250th Anniversary of Syamopasampadawa (Weliwita Sri Saranankara Sangaraja Mahimi) | 23.50 | Ni / Br | 9.50 | 2003 | |||
| 1500 | 2550th Anniversary of the passing away of Buddha | 38.61 | Silver (0.925) | 28.28 | 2006 | |||
| 2000 | 2550th Anniversary of the passing away of Buddha | 38.61 | Silver (Selective Gold Plated) | 28.28 | 2006 | |||
| 5 | 2550th Anniversary of the passing away of Buddha | 23.50 | Br plated Steel | 9.50 | 2006 | |||
| 1000 | Cricket World Cup 2007 (Runner up) | 32 | Ni plated Steel | 12 | 2007 | |||
| 5 | Cricket World Cup 2007 (Runner up) | 28.50 | Brass plated Steel | 7.00 | 2007 | |||
| 1000 | 50th Anniversary of Employee's Provident Fund Commemorative Coin | 28.50 | Nickel Plated Steel (Brilliant un Circulated) | 7.00 | 2008 | |||
| 2 | 50th Anniversary of Employee's Provident Fund Commemorative Coin | 28.50 | Nickel Plated Steel | 7.00 | 2008 | |||
| 200 | Sri Lanka Customs Commemorative coin | Silver | 10.50 | 2008 | ||||
| 1000 | 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army | 28.50 | Silver | 11.90 | 2009 | |||
| 1000 | 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army | 28.50 | Cu-Ni | 8.25 | 2009 | |||
| 5000 | 60th Anniversary Central Bank of Sri Lanka | Central Bank Crest | A tree depicting the growth and the stability of Sri Lanka's economy | 38.61 | Silver | 28.28 | 2010 | |
| 2 | 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force | Logo of Sri Lanka Air Force in the centre. An artist's impression of a Chipmunk aircraft appears below the logo and another three aircraft; Mig 27 Mikoyan MiG-27 The Mikoyan MiG-27 is a variable-geometry ground-attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan design bureau in the Soviet Union and later license-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur . It is based on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 fighter aircraft, but optimized for... , C 130, and MI 24 appear above the logo. |
Two (face value) in large numerals and the words "Two Rupees" in Sinhala, Tamil and English appear across the face value. | 28.5 | Nickel plated steel | 7 | 2 March 2011 | |
Banknotes
Portraits of former Sri Lankan prime ministers and the incumbent president Mahinda Rajapakse have graced the fronts of Sri Lankan bank notes, while the backs have featured Sri Lankan fauna and flora, Sri Lankan landscapes and industries, and images depicting Sri Lankan culture, history, and achievements.In 1895, the Government of Ceylon introduced its first paper money in the form of 5 rupee notes. 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. The 200 rupee note is printed on a polymer substrate. Banknotes 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
De La Rue
De La Rue plc is a British security printing, papermaking and cash handling systems company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It also has a factory on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, and other facilities at Loughton, Essex and Bathford, Somerset...
, a printing company in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 2011, a series is to be issued to commemorate the country's 60th anniversary.
Heritage series
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.Current series
On February 4, 2011, The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued a new series of currency notes on the theme “Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers” for circulation. This is the 11th series of currency notes of the Central Bank to be issued. The new series consists of six denominations Rs. 5,000, Rs. 1,000, Rs. 500, Rs. 100, Rs. 50 and Rs. 20. The high value Rs. 5000 note issued for the first time in the history of the Central Bank is being introduced to facilitate expansion in transactions that has taken place with the growth of Sri Lanka's economy.| Current Series in Circulation (Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions | Color | Printed Date | Issued Date |
| 20 rupees | 128 x 67 mm | Maroon | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
| 50 rupees | 133 x 67 mm | Blue | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
| 100 rupees | 138 x 67 mm | Orange | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
| 500 rupees | 143 x 67 mm | Purple | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
| 1000 rupees | 148 x 67 mm | Green | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
| 5000 rupees | 153 x 67 mm | Gold | January 1, 2010 | February 4, 2011 | ||
On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10 rupee note with a coin.
| Current Series in Circulation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions | Color | Printed Date | Issued Date |
| 10 rupees | Green | 1 January 1991 1 July 1992 19 August 1994 15 November 1995 12 December 2001 10 April 2004 19 November 2005 |
||||
| 20 rupees | 128 X 63 mm | Purple | ||||
| 50 rupees | Blue | |||||
| 100 rupees | 143 X 71 mm | Orange | As above, without the 1994 revision | |||
 |
 |
500 rupees | Light Orange and Purple | |||
 |
 |
1000 rupees | 158 X 79 mm | Light Green | 1 January 1991 1 July 1992 15 November 1995 12 December 2001 10 April 2004 1 July 2004 19 November 2005 3 July 2006 |
|
| 2000 rupees | Orange | 19 November 2005 | 17 October 2006 | |||
Former series
| King George VI series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
| One Rupee | 1951 | ||||||||
| 10 Rupees | 1951 | ||||||||
| Queen Elizabeth II Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
| One Rupee | Light Blue | 1952 | |||||||
| 2 Rupees | 1952 | ||||||||
| 5 Rupees | 1952 | ||||||||
| 10 Rupees | 1952 | ||||||||
| 50 Rupees | 1952 | ||||||||
| 100 Rupees | 1952 | ||||||||
| Armorial Ensign of Ceylon Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
 |
 |
One Rupee | Light Blue | 5 June 1963 | 1956 | ||||
| 2 Rupees | 1956 | ||||||||
| 5 Rupees | 1956 | ||||||||
| 10 Rupees | 1956 | ||||||||
| 50 Rupees | 1956 | ||||||||
| 100 Rupees | 1956 | ||||||||
| S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake Portrait Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
| 2 Rupees | 1962 | ||||||||
| 5 Rupees | 1962 | ||||||||
| 10 Rupees | 1962 | ||||||||
 |
 |
50 Rupees | Purple, Light Green | 1974 | 1962 | ||||
| 100 Rupees | 1962 | ||||||||
| Vignette of Parakramabahu, The Great Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
| 2 Rupees | Vignette of Parakramabahu | 1965 | |||||||
 |
5 Rupees | Red | Vignette of Parakramabahu | 27 August 1974 | 1965 | ||||
 |
10 Rupees | Green | Vignette of Parakramabahu | 7 June 1971 | 1965 | ||||
| 50 Rupees | Vignette of Parakramabahu | 1965 | |||||||
| 100 Rupees | Vignette of Parakramabahu | 1965 | |||||||
| Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
| 50 Rupees | Light Purple | Armorial Ensign | Terraced hillside | 26 August 1977 | 1975 | ||||
 |
 |
100 Rupees | Light Purple, Gray | Armorial Ensign | 1977 | 1975 | |||
| Fauna and Flora Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
 |
2 Rupees | Red | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | |||||
| 5 Rupees | Grey | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | ||||||
 |
10 Rupees | Light Green | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | |||||
 |
20 Rupees | Ash, Light Blue | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | |||||
 |
50 Rupees | Light Blue | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | |||||
| 100 Rupees | Yellow | 26 March 1979 | 1979 | ||||||
| Historical and Archaeological Theme Series | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Color | Obverse | Reverse | Printed Date | Issued Date | Watermark | |
 |
 |
5 Rupees | Red | 1 January 1982 | 1981 | ||||
 |
 |
10 Rupees | Green | Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple of the Tooth Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is... |
5 April 1990 | 1981 | |||
 |
20 Rupees | Purple | Moonstone | 5 April 1990 | 1981 | ||||
 |
50 Rupees | Blue | 1 January 1982 | 1981 | |||||
 |
 |
500 Rupees | Light Brown | 1 January 1981 | 1981 | ||||
 |
 |
1000 Rupees | Light Green | Dam | Peacock, Mountains | 1 January 1981 | 1981 | ||
Commemorative notes
| Commemorative Banknotes of Sri Lanka | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reserve | Value | Description | Color | | Dimensions | Printed Date | | Issued Date | Material | Year |
| 200 Rupees | 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka regaining Independence | Blue | 146.5 x 73.0 mm | polymer | 1998 | ||||
| 1000 Rupees | The ushering of peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka | Blue | 157 X 78.5 mm | 20 May 2009 | 17 November 2009 | paper | 2009 | ||
External links
- Ceylon & Sri Lanka Collectables - Banknotes & Coins
- Current Coins of Sri Lanka
- Ancient Coins of Sri Lanka
- Polymer Banknotes of Sri Lanka
- Medieval Coins of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
- Dutch V.O.C coins of Ceylon
- The Sinhala copper coinage of the 12th to 15th centuries
- Early coinage of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka’s second Money Museum to be opened in Anuradhapura