1000 Sri Lankan Rupees Commemorative Banknote (Peace Prosperity)

1,000 Rupees Rupee (Issued 2009)

Relatively few pristine examples of the 2009 Sri Lanka 1,000 Rupee banknote remain in uncirculated condition, as this note was issued to commemorate a defining moment in the nation’s history and entered wide circulation almost immediately. The note’s commemorative significance, combined with its high face value, means that worn or folded examples are far more common than crisp, well-preserved specimens. Its bold commemorative imagery and the political moment it captures have made it a note of considerable interest to historians and currency researchers focused on South Asian monetary history. Those seeking to exchange or study Sri Lankan currency from this period frequently encounter this note as a centrepiece of the 2009 modern issue series.

On the front, the dominant feature to the right of centre is a finely engraved portrait of Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, depicted in a celebratory pose with his right arm raised triumphantly aloft, dressed in a white open-collared shirt. The engraving captures his likeness with considerable detail, including his facial expression and characteristic broad smile. Immediately to his right, the Sri Lanka national flag is visible, rendered in vivid yellow, orange, and deep crimson, with the golden lion and leaf motifs clearly depicted. To the left of centre, a stylised map of Sri Lanka is printed in soft golden and green tones, overlaid with a traditional decorative pot or urn overflowing with a sheaf of paddy rice and foliage, rendered in warm golden and earthy tones, symbolising agricultural prosperity. The upper portion of the note carries the bank name in Sinhala script across the top border, with the English text “Central Bank of Sri Lanka” printed clearly in the upper right quadrant. A vertical security thread runs along the left side of the note, bearing the serial number printed in red: the prefix and the numeral sequence 052845 are clearly visible running both horizontally to the left of the central imagery and vertically along the security strip. The issue date 2009-05-20 is printed below the central imagery. Two facsimile signatures of bank officials appear in the lower central area, with accompanying Sinhala script text beneath each. The denomination “1000” appears in large bold numerals in the upper left and lower right corners, with the text “ONE THOUSAND RUPEES” printed in English along the lower left margin, accompanied by denomination text in Sinhala and Tamil script above it. The overall background colour of the front is a pale blue fading into soft lilac and cream, with fine guilloché rosette patterns visible in the lower right corner area and along the borders. The outer edges of the note are bordered by a repeating decorative pattern in blue and white.

The reverse presents a striking and vigorously composed central scene depicting a group of Sri Lankan military soldiers in full combat uniform raising the Sri Lanka national flag on a pole, closely echoing the iconography of historic flag-raising imagery used in military commemoration worldwide. The soldiers are rendered in a detailed illustrative style, with camouflage uniforms, helmets, and boots clearly visible, and several appear to be actively gripping and lifting the flagpole in unison. The national flag they raise is rendered in full colour — bold crimson, orange, and yellow with the lion motif — and billows dynamically above the group. Behind the soldiers, the background opens onto a coastal and mountainous landscape rendered in soft blue-green tones, with a prominent mountain peak visible to the upper left of the scene. Military naval vessels are visible on the water to the left, and military helicopters are depicted in flight in the upper left sky area, reinforcing the armed forces theme of the composition. The denomination “1000” appears in large bold numerals in the upper left and lower right corners of the reverse. The bank name in Sinhala script appears at the top of the note, with “Central Bank of Sri Lanka” in English beneath it to the right, and Sinhala script text for the issuing institution is also visible. Along the lower margin, the denomination text in Sinhala and Tamil script is printed to the left, followed by the English text “ONE THOUSAND RUPEES” in the lower centre. The overall background colour of the reverse is a pale blue and cream, with the border repeating the same decorative blue patterning seen on the front.

Looking to exchange leftover currency? Your 2009 Sri Lanka 1,000 Rupee banknote can be sold to Webuyallcurrency.com alongside other old or withdrawn Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes, turning spare money from a trip or collection into cash in one simple transaction.

• 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

Wondering who buys foreign coins and banknotes? Webuyallcurrency.com does — bring your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes together with any other old or withdrawn currency and exchange it all for cash in one place.

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