According to an Ada Derana article dated 7 January 2020, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka planned to introduce a new 20-rupee coin and a new 2,000-rupee note in 2020 to commemorate its 70th anniversary. Due to the financial crisis at the time, the project was shelved. However, in 2025, the bank introduced this new 2,000-rupee note to commemorate its 75th anniversay theme, “Stability for Prosperity,” reflecting the Central Bank’s enduring commitment to fostering economic stability as the foundation for national development. 50 million notes are planned.
B131 (PNL): 2,000 rupees (US$11)
Blue, purple, and green. Front: English, Sinhala, and Tamil text; 75th anniversary logo; Colombo skyline silhouette; central bank headquarters building and Colombo Lighthouse Clock tower; lion holding sword as registration device. Back (vertical): English, Sinhala, and Tamil text; 75th anniversary logo; stylized map of Sri Lanka, water lily; lion holding sword as registration device. 5-mm wide blue-to-green windowed security thread with demetalized clock tower and 2000. Watermark: Lion holding sword with electrotype 2000 and Cornerstones. Printer: DE LA RUE. 151 x 67 mm. Paper.
a. 2025-08-28. Sig. 19: Dissanayake/Weerasinghe. Prefix CB. Intro: 29.08.2025.
300-dpi scans requested.
Courtesy of Aidan Work and Charles Toussaint.