Commemorative banknotes of the Sri Lankan rupee

Significant events of national importance have been occasions for the issue of commemorative notes in Sri Lanka. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued two commemorative notes. In 1998 a 200 rupees note was issued on Independence day to commemorate the 50th Independence Anniversary of the country. The note was issued along with three commemorative coins; a five thousand rupees gold coin, a one thousand rupees silver coin, and a ten rupees bi-metallic coin. The 200 rupees commemorative note was the first time a Sri Lankan note had been issued in polymer plastic produced by Note Printing Australia. The artwork was done by Ananda Somathilake and Gamini Mendis. Only a limited number of notes were issued. The note is being removed from circulation, and is rarely seen. Currently about 3% of the ~20.5 million notes issued are in circulation or with collectors.

In 2009 the 1000 rupees note commemorating the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the Ushering of Peace and Prosperity note was issued. The note is dated two days after the end of the war as 2009-05-20. The note is the first time since 1954, that an image of a living person has been used on Sri Lankan currency notes. It is a paper note, with a limited number issued.

200 rupee note (1998)

Image	Commemorative subject	Obverse Description	Reverse Description	Colour	Material	Dimensions (mm)	No. printed	Year issued	Watermark	Ref
[1]	50th Independence Anniversary	Progress during 50 years of Independence	The National Heritage	Blue	Polymer	146.5 x 73.0	20,559,000	1998	A lion holding a sword	[2]

1000 rupee note (2009)

Image	Commemorative subject	Obverse Description	Reverse Description	Colour	Material	Dimensions (mm)	No. printed	Year issued	Watermark	Ref
[3]	The Ushering of Peace and Prosperity	Image of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Map of Sri Lanka with the rising sun in the background and a "Punkalasa" with ears of paddy at centre left depicts territorial integrity and prosperity respectively, that are result of national harmony and peace.	Hoisting of the national flag by the security forces appears in the centre. Images of the Mavil Aru annicut and Thoppigala rock appear in the background.	Blue	Paper	157 X 78.5		2009	A lion holding a sword	[4]

500 rupee note (2013)

Image	Commemorative subject	Obverse Description	Reverse Description	Colour	Material	Dimensions (mm)	No. printed	Year issued	Watermark	Ref
[5]	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 held in Sri Lanka	World Trade Center and Bank of Ceylon Headquarters in Colombo, ancient Buddhist temple Lankathilaka Viharaya at Kandy, Sri Lanka emerald-collared parakeet (Psittacula calthropae), CHOGM 2013 logo	Thelme dancer and Yak Bera drummer, Padmanidhi guard stone, stylized floral motif (Dvithva Liya Vela)	Purple	Paper	143 x 67	5,000,000	2013	Emerald-collared parakeet	[6]

1000 rupee note (2018)

Image	Commemorative subject	Obverse Description	Reverse Description	Colour	Material	Dimensions (mm)	No. printed	Year issued	Watermark	Ref
	70th Anniversary of Independence	Logo for the 70th Anniversary of Independence, a Hindu Temple, a Mosque, a Tamil Kovil and a Church; Sri Lanka hanging parrot (Loriculus beryllinus)	A drawing of Malpadaya dancer and a Dawul Bera drummer.	Green	Paper	148 x 67	5,000,000	2018	Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot 1000	[7]

See also

• Sri Lankan commemorative coins

External links

• LakdivaNotes Collection
• Commemorative Notes from Sri Lanka