100 Rupees Central Bank Of Ceylon Banknote (King Parakramabahu I Statue)

100 Rupees Rupee (Issued 1966)

Among the most visually commanding issues ever produced by the Central Bank of Ceylon, the 1966 one-hundred-rupee note occupies a distinctive place in South Asian monetary history, representing Ceylon’s independent central banking identity during a period of significant post-colonial economic development. A currency expert examining this note would immediately be drawn to the sculptural portrait on the obverse — an unusually bold and culturally specific design choice that set these Ceylonese high-denomination notes apart from the more conventional portraiture seen across Commonwealth-era currencies. The intricate guilloché border work and the layered use of deep brown and rose-pink tones across both faces speak to the quality of engraving commissioned for this series. As a withdrawn issue that circulated only between 1965 and 1968, examples encountered today carry the weight of a brief but historically loaded chapter in Ceylon’s transition toward the modern Sri Lankan state.

On the front, the note is dominated by a seated stone sculptural figure positioned to the right of centre, rendered in fine intaglio engraving with strong tonal contrast that captures the texture and three-dimensional form of what appears to be a classical Sinhalese royal or divine figure — consistent with representations of an ancient Ceylonese king depicted in traditional regalia, likely drawn from the archaeological heritage of the island’s medieval Buddhist civilisation. The figure is shown seated in a formal, composed pose with hands resting deliberately, wearing ornate dress and headgear characteristic of early Sinhalese iconography. The background surrounding the portrait is filled with delicate guilloché patterning in rose-pink and soft brown tones, creating a complex geometric field that serves both as decoration and as a deterrent to counterfeiting. At the top of the note, the bank’s name is rendered in Sinhala script — ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහ බැංකු — within an ornamental cartouche, and this same inscription is repeated across the top border in what appears to be a decorative serif arrangement. The denomination is stated prominently in large Sinhala script — රුපියල් සියයයි — in the central field, and the numeral “100” appears in the upper left and lower right corners in bold, clear typography. Along the lower edge, “ONE HUNDRED RUPEES” is printed in Roman text, alongside a Tamil-script equivalent. The serial number V/68 51111 appears twice on the face in dark ink — once in the upper right field and once in the lower left — in a clean, evenly-spaced typeface. A date of 1968-1-10 is printed in the lower central area alongside what appear to be two facsimile signatures in Tamil and Sinhala script, representing the authorising signatories of the Central Bank of Ceylon. The overall colour palette of the obverse is a warm combination of deep burgundy-brown, dusty rose and pale cream, printed on a slightly textured paper with visible ageing consistent with a note that entered general circulation.

The reverse presents an entirely different compositional mood, shifting from the architectural solemnity of the obverse to a scene of classical Ceylonese figural art. Two female figures are depicted in detailed intaglio engraving, occupying the central and left portions of the note in an arrangement that evokes the style of ancient Sinhalese fresco painting — most plausibly inspired by the celebrated Sigiriya cave paintings of the 5th century, which are among Ceylon’s most iconic cultural treasures. The figure to the left is shown in three-quarter profile, adorned with elaborate jewellery including necklaces, arm ornaments and a decorative headdress, and appears to hold lotus flowers or foliage in her outstretched hands. The second figure, slightly behind and to the right, is similarly bejewelled and looks toward the viewer with a composed, classical expression. Both figures are engraved with exceptional care, with fine linework conveying the texture of fabric, the lustre of jewellery, and the graceful contours of traditional Ceylonese artistic representation. Behind the figures, a faint landscape impression is visible, suggesting an outdoor or natural setting rendered in muted tones. The background field is filled with guilloché patterning in pale sage green and soft brown, providing a subtle but structured visual texture. The bank name in Sinhala script — ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහ බැංකු — appears again at the top of the reverse within a decorative panel, and the denomination “100” is printed in the upper left corner. The text “ONE HUNDRED RUPEES” and its Tamil-script equivalent நூறு ரூபாய் appear in the lower right quadrant, while “රුපියල් සියයයි” in Sinhala script runs along the lower border in a rectangular panel. The colour of the reverse is predominantly soft green and brown on pale cream paper, with moderate show-through from the obverse visible on the central field due to the paper’s weight and the note’s age.

Turn a 100 Rupees Central Bank of Ceylon banknote into money with Webuyallcurrency.com, which buys old or withdrawn Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes along with a wide range of other foreign currency in a single, hassle-free transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 100 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

If you have leftover currency to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com accepts Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes and a wide range of other foreign coins and notes, paying out for the lot in a single straightforward transaction.

Other Sri Lankan Rupees you can exchange: 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 200.