100 Sri Lankan Rupees Banknote (Stone Carving Anuradhapura)

100 Rupees Rupee (Issued 1982)

The 1982 issue of the Central Bank of Ceylon’s one hundred rupee note belongs to a broader tradition of intaglio-influenced South Asian banknote design that flourished through the late 1970s and early 1980s, blending architectural engraving with decorative motifs drawn from Sri Lanka’s deep cultural heritage. The overall layout is structured yet ornate, with a warm terracotta and burnt orange palette dominating both faces, a colour language common to central bank issues of the period that conveyed institutional authority through earthy, richly saturated tones. Intricate guilloché rosette work and fine geometric latticework fill the background registers, demonstrating the precision printmaking standards expected of currency produced to resist counterfeiting during this era. The design philosophy balances formal institutional typography with distinctly local iconography, giving the note a character entirely grounded in Ceylonese and Sri Lankan visual culture.

On the front, the note is printed predominantly in warm shades of orange, terracotta and brown, with accents of pink and gold visible in the decorative floral and scroll patterns that occupy the central left portion of the design. A large circular watermark window is positioned towards the upper left, surrounded by fine ornamental detailing. To the right of centre, a boldly engraved sculptural motif dominates — a guardian lion figure, rendered in considerable relief-style detail, seated atop an elaborate carved stone pedestal or pillar with scrolled and foliate decoration, representing the traditional Sinhala architectural stonework found at ancient Sri Lankan religious and royal sites. At the base of this panel, a horizontal frieze of small engraved horses in procession runs across the lower right portion of the design, adding further decorative depth. The issuing authority is identified in the upper portion of the note with the words “Central Bank of Ceylon” printed in clear Roman script, accompanied by text in Sinhala script above and Tamil script text also present in the upper register. The denomination “100” appears prominently in the upper right corner and again in the lower left, with the serial number printed twice — once in the upper right as “G/39 561002” and repeated in the lower left in the same format. The date “1982-01-01” is printed in the lower central area, and the English text “One Hundred Rupees” appears along the bottom margin. Sinhala script denomination text reading the equivalent of “One Hundred Rupees” is printed in large characters across the central band of the note, with Tamil script denomination text appearing below it. Two signature lines with printed signatures and their titles are visible in the lower central area, corresponding to senior Central Bank officials. Fine guilloché rosette and interlaced geometric patterns fill the background across the entire note, providing the security underprint typical of this series.

The reverse is printed in a similar warm terracotta and brown palette, with the upper portion featuring a decorative border incorporating teal and gold geometric patterning around the watermark window, which is positioned centrally in the upper half. The principal design element on the reverse is a detailed architectural engraving of a large, modern building complex rendered across the central and lower portions of the note — identifiable as the Parliament of Sri Lanka building at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, a striking modernist structure set beside a body of water, depicted here with its broad, low-slung roofline, colonnaded frontage, and reflective pool or lake in the foreground. The surrounding landscape includes trees and open grounds, all rendered with fine engraved linework that gives depth and texture to the scene. Text in Sinhala script appears above the architectural vignette, and further Sinhala and Tamil script text is visible below the building image. The words “Central Bank of Ceylon” appear in Roman script in the upper register alongside Sinhala and Tamil script equivalents. The denomination “100” is printed in the upper left and lower right corners, and the English text “One Hundred Rupees” runs along the lower margin. Sinhala and Tamil script denomination text appears in large print in the lower central band, mirroring the front face presentation.

If you have a 100 Rupees banknote to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com takes it as part of its leftover currency service, combining your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes with other world coins and banknotes in one easy payout.

• Indicate the quantity of 100 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
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Webuyallcurrency.com is a simple way to exchange or sell foreign coins and banknotes for cash — current or withdrawn — turning your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes and any other leftover currency into one straightforward payout.

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