Sri Lanka unveils new note family (B123a – B128a) reported for introduction “soon”

According to a booklet produced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to highlight events planned to celebrate its 60th anniversary, a new series of banknotes was scheduled to be issued 3 March 2011. However, according to a more recent AsianTribute article, the notes are expected “next month,” and indications are they may be issued as early as 4 February.

The denomination structure of the new series will be 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 rupees (for a total face value of approximately US$60). The note 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 artistict 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.

Like the current series of notes, the new notes have vertically-oriented backs. They appear to be printed by DLR, are dated 2010-01-01, and signed by Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

More info can be found on this web page and in this document.

Courtesy of Aidan Work, Jean-Michel Engels, and Tod Hunt.

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