1000 Sri Lankan Rupees Banknote (Elephants)

1,000 Rupees Rupee (Issued 1991)

The 1,000 Rupees note issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 1 January 1991 was produced during a period of significant economic and institutional development for the island nation, as the Central Bank worked to modernise its currency series and project national identity through its highest-denomination circulating note. At the time of issue, Sri Lanka was consolidating its post-independence heritage through imagery drawn from its cultural and natural landscape, making this note one of the most visually ambitious of its era. The date 1991-01-01 printed on the note places it precisely at the opening of that year, marking its introduction as part of the wider 1991–1994 issue series. This series represented a deliberate effort by the Central Bank to strengthen the visual coherence and security standards of Sri Lankan currency.

On the front, the dominant design element is a large, ornately decorated ceremonial elephant rendered in fine engraving detail on the right-hand side of the note, occupying much of the central and right portion of the composition. The elephant is depicted in full ceremonial regalia, with richly patterned cloth and elaborate decorative trappings covering its back and head, conveying the deep cultural significance of the elephant in Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition. A mahout, or elephant handler, stands to the right of the animal, dressed in traditional attire, providing a sense of scale and human context to the scene. To the left of the central design, a second, smaller elephant procession scene is depicted in the middle distance, reinforcing the ceremonial theme. The overall colour palette of the front is dominated by shades of green and teal, with lighter pastel tones creating depth across the guilloché patterned background. The issuing authority is identified by the text “Central Bank of Sri Lanka” printed in English in the upper central area, flanked by Sinhala script text above it and further text in Tamil script also appearing on the note. The denomination “1000” appears prominently in the upper left and lower right corners in bold numerals, and the words “ONE THOUSAND RUPEES” are printed vertically along the left margin in English. Rupee denomination text appears in Sinhala and Tamil script in the central area of the note. The serial number C/4 050312 appears twice, once in the upper left region and again in the lower right, printed in dark ink. A security strip is embedded vertically through the note, visible as a dark vertical band running through the central portion. The date 1991-01-01 is printed clearly in the lower central area. In the lower left corner, a rectangular vignette displays an intricately engraved heraldic device featuring a lion motif surrounded by decorative scrollwork, consistent with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s official emblem. Guilloché fine-line rosette patterns fill the background across the note, providing security against reproduction, and the paper exhibits a light watermark area visible along the left margin.

The reverse presents an equally detailed and colourful composition, centred on the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist site, depicted in fine engraved linework showing the distinctive red-roofed structure with its characteristic tower rising above the surrounding walls and trees. The building is rendered in pale green and white tones, set against a background of fine guilloché patterning in pink and green hues. Flanking the upper portion of the reverse are two stylised pink lotus flower blossoms, Sri Lanka’s national flower, printed in soft pink tones and positioned symmetrically at the top left and top right of the design. Dominating the lower portion of the reverse is a large, vividly coloured peacock, rendered in blue-purple and gold tones, shown in profile with its full tail fanned out to the left in a magnificent display of ochre and gold feather detail. The peacock’s head and neck are depicted in rich blue-purple colouring, while the spread tail fans across the lower central area in warm golden shades, creating a striking contrast against the green background. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s name appears at the top in English, with corresponding Sinhala and Tamil script text also present above the English text. The denomination “1000” appears in bold purple numerals in the upper left corner, and “ONE THOUSAND RUPEES” is printed along the lower margin in English, with Tamil script denomination text also appearing in the lower left area. The Central Bank’s circular emblem, featuring the stylised wheel or hub device in orange and red, is printed in the upper central area of the reverse directly beneath the script text. The border of the reverse is framed by a repeating geometric pattern in green, consistent with the guilloché security printing visible across the note’s face.

This 1,000 Rupees banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com, where old or withdrawn Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes are bought alongside other foreign currency — ideal for clearing a drawer of mixed coins and notes at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 1,000 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Got a mix of old coins and banknotes? Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes alongside other leftover and foreign currency, settling the whole lot in one straightforward transaction.

Other Sri Lankan Rupees you can exchange: 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100.