50 Rupees Central Bank Of Ceylon Banknote (Swrd Bandaranaike)

50 Rupees Rupee (Issued 1972)

Surviving examples of the 1972-dated 50 Rupees note from the Central Bank of Ceylon are thought to be relatively few in number, particularly in well-preserved condition, given that the note was actively circulated and subsequently withdrawn from legal tender following Sri Lanka’s transition away from its colonial-era monetary identity. The political and constitutional changes of this period — Ceylon became the Republic of Sri Lanka in 1972 — mean that banknotes bearing the “Central Bank of Ceylon” designation carry an added layer of historical significance, representing the final years of a currency identity that had endured since independence. Notes that passed through everyday commerce in the early 1970s were subject to considerable handling, and those that survived intact are now considerably scarcer than their original issue numbers might suggest. Historians and enthusiasts alike regard this issue as a tangible document of Ceylon’s last chapter before the country’s formal renaming.

On the front, the note is presented in a palette dominated by soft mauves, lilacs and pale greens, with a refined guilloché background filling the central field with intricate, lace-like geometric rosette patterns. To the right of centre sits a portrait of Dudley Senanayake, the prominent Ceylonese statesman and Prime Minister, rendered in a fine intaglio engraving that captures his distinctive spectacles, broad smile, and the collar of a light-coloured shirt. The engraving work conveys depth and texture, with careful shading across the face and clothing. In the upper portion of the note, the issuing authority is clearly printed in English as “CENTRAL BANK OF Ceylon,” flanked on either side by the denomination numeral “50.” The bank’s name also appears in Sinhala script and Tamil script above the English text, and a stylised lion emblem — the traditional symbol associated with Ceylon — is positioned prominently at the upper left. The central area of the note carries the denomination in large Sinhala script, reading “රුපියල් පනහයි,” with further text in both Sinhala and Tamil providing the statutory promise language. The date “1972-12-28” is printed in the lower central area beneath the denomination text, accompanied by what appears to be a manuscript-style signature of the Governor of the Central Bank rendered in ink-style script. Below this, a further line of Sinhala text carries additional authorisation wording. The serial number “N/1 78134” appears twice — once in the upper right corner and again in the lower left — printed in dark ink in a clear serif typeface. At the very bottom of the note, a rectangular panel in a deeper purple shade carries the denomination in Tamil as “அம்பது ரூபாய்” alongside the English text “FIFTY RUPEES.” Floral and foliate decorative motifs, including what appear to be stylised pineapple and leaf forms, are visible in the lower left corner, and the overall border is composed of repeating fine-line geometric ornamental work.

The reverse of the note is printed primarily in shades of violet and purple, with accents of green in the central landscape vignette. The upper portion repeats the trilingual bank name — in Sinhala, Tamil, and English as “CENTRAL BANK OF Ceylon” — along with the denomination numerals “50” positioned at the upper left and upper right corners. The central image is a detailed engraved landscape depicting terraced tea plantations set against a backdrop of rolling hills and mountains, with roads or pathways visible weaving through the cultivated terraces in the middle ground, and lush foreground vegetation rendered with considerable botanical detail. The composition conveys the agricultural identity of Ceylon’s hill country, with the sweeping contours of the planted slopes given particular prominence. Below the central vignette, a panel carries the denomination in Tamil script as “அம்பது ரூபாய்” and in Sinhala as “රුපියල් පනහයි,” with the English “FIFTY RUPEES” completing the trilingual treatment. The left and right borders of the reverse are composed of repeating ornamental panels featuring floral rosette motifs and circular dot patterns, providing a structured frame to the composition. The paper itself shows a light, cream-toned ground, and faint show-through from the front design is visible when the note is examined closely.

Sell foreign coins and banknotes the simple way: this 50 Rupees Central Bank of Ceylon banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com together with other old or withdrawn Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes, all settled in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 50 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Exchange foreign coins and banknotes the easy way — Webuyallcurrency.com buys Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes, current or discontinued, and combines them with the rest of your leftover currency for one simple payment.

Other Sri Lankan Rupees you can exchange: 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200.