Sri Lanka Bank Notes - Currencies in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan Rupees)

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is the institution, which was empowered by the Monetary Law Act as the sole authority to issue currency in Sri Lanka. Since its inception in 1950, the CBSL has issued eleven currency note series under eleven themes in different years as follows:

Note Series currently in circulation

The notes that are widely seen in circulation belong to 10 and 11 series of notes issued by the CBSL.

10^th Note Series - Sri Lanka Heritage – 1991

This series consists of the following denominations: Rs. 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000.

Rs.10 Currency Note

Front

An image of a lion carved of stone seen at Yapahuwa appears on the right and a moonstone design in the centre.

 Back

The Old Parliament Building (at present the Presidential Secretariat) with a vignette of tree blossoms in the foreground.

Rs. 20 Currency Note

Front

A traditional Sinhalese Mask on the right and a moonstone design in the centre

Back

Two fishermen perched on stilts and a conch shell placed on a coral reef.

Rs. 50 Currency Note
Front

A headgear of a Sri Lankan dancer on the right, an ancient guardstone at the centre left and a moonstone design in the centre.

back

A sword hilt with intricate carvings and the Thuparama Dagoba and the Abayagiriya Dagoba in the background.

Rs. 100 Currency Note

Front

 An ancient decorated pot in the right side and a moonstone design in the center.

back

Two parrots with two female tea pluckers picking tea leaves and beautiful scenery from the hill country in the background.

Rs. 500 Currency Note

Front

Two drummers to the right, a Kandyan dancer at the centre left, a moonstone design in the centre and an image of the Sri Maha Bodi in the background.

Back

Orchid flowers with Ruwanweli Maha Seya at Anuradhapura in the background.

Rs. 1000 Currency Note

Front

A beautifully decorated tusker with its mahout on the right, a tusker carrying Tooth Relic in the centre left and a moonstone design in the centre.

Back

Two peacocks with an image of the Octagon of the Tooth Relic in Kandy in the background.

Rs. 2000 Currency Note

Front

An image of Sigiriya Rock in the centre and a Sesatha on the right.

 Back

A damsel holding a flower (A fresco of Sigiriya).

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11^th Note Series

Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers – 2011

This series consists of following denominations: Rs. 20,50,100,500,1000 and 5000.

Rs. 20 Currency Note

Front

Port of Colombo (a recent and an early view). 
The bird - "Sri Lanka Serendib Scops Owl"; The butterfly - "The Baronet".

Back

"Ves Netuma" dancer (Kandyan dance form) and "Geta bera" drummer. 
Background - "Punkalasa" (pot of plenty) guard stone, " Liya-vela" (single floral design) and map of Sri Lanka.

Rs. 50 Currency Note

Front

New bridge at Manampitiya alongside the old bridge and an ancient 
railway arch bridge in the background. The bird - "Sri Lanka Dull –Blue Flycatcher"; The butterfly - "The Blue Oakleaf".

Back

"Vadiga Patuna" dancer (Low Country dance form) and "Yak bera" drummer. 
Background - "Punkalasa" guard stone, "Liya-vela" (single floral design)and map of Sri Lanka.

Rs. 100 Currency Note

Front

 Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Project and Laxapana waterfall in the background. 
The bird - "Sri Lanka Orange Billed Babbler"; 
The butterfly - "The Autumn Leaf".

Back

"Bharatanatyam" dancer (classical South Indian dance form) and "Mridangam " drummer. 
Background - "Naga" guard stone, "Dvithva liya-vela" (double floral design) and map of Sri Lanka.

Rs. 500 Currency Note

Front

.

The World Trade Centre and Bank of Ceylon Headquarters (city of Colombo). An ancient Buddhist temple "Lankatilaka Viharaya" at Kandy in the background. 
The bird - " Sri Lanka Emerald Collared Parakeet (Layard’s Parakeet)"; The butterfly - "The Ceylon Indigo Royal".

Back

"Thelme Netuma" dancer ("Devol Maduwa" ritual - Low Country dance form) and "Yak bera" drummer. Background - "Padmanidhi" guard stone, "Dvithva liya-vela" and map of Sri Lanka.

Rs. 1000 Currency Note

Front

New Ramboda Tunnel and the rock wall/hood at the same location in the background. 
The bird - "Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot"; 
The butterfly -"The White Four Ring".

Back

"Malpadaya Netuma" dancer (Sabaragamuwa dance form) and "Davul bera" drummer. 
Background - Guard stone with guardian deities, "Dvithva liya-vela" and map of Sri Lanka.

Rs. 5000 Currency Note

Front

Weheragala Dam and Canyon Dam in the background. The bird - "Sri Lanka Yellow Eared Bulbul"; The butterfly - "The Lemon Migrant".

Back

"Nagaraksha" and "Guruluraksha" dancers (Low Country mask dance) Background- "Rathnaprasada" guard stone, "Kalpavruksa" (Wishgranting Tree) floral design and map of Sri Lanka.

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