CB issuing Rs 2000 note

The Central Bank said last week it would be releasing the new Rs 2,000 currency note from Tuesday.

“This Heritage series currency note is being introduced in view of the shift in demand for high denomination currency notes coupled with changes in price levels and increase in per capita GDP in the country in recent times,” the Bank said in a statement.

The move appears to follow criticism by the opposition United National Party that the government was withholding release of this high-value currency note.

The statement said action in relation to the printing of Rs. 2000 new note was initiated in February 2000 which culminated with the then Minister of Finance approving the denomination, dimensions, design, inscription and other characteristics of the propsed Rs. 2000 bank note in May 2005.

The obverse of the note depicts the ‘Sigiriya Rock’ in the middle and a ‘Sesatha’ in the right. The reverse of the note depicts a ‘Sigiriya Fresco’. The words “Central Bank of Sri Lanka”, a statement that the note is legal tender and the signatures in facsimile of former Minister of Finance, Dr Sarath Amunugama and former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sunil Mendis appear on the obverse of the note.