5000 Sri Lankan Rupees Banknote (Sri Lanka Dancers Series)

5,000 Rupees Rupee (Issued 2010-2024)

Fewer Sri Lankan five-thousand rupee notes from the 2010–2024 issue series find their way into the hands of overseas holders than might be expected, given that high-denomination notes of this kind tend to circulate intensively within the domestic economy and return quickly to the banking system rather than travel abroad. Those that do reach the United Kingdom are often brought back by travellers, expatriates, or returning residents who have carried them as spending money or keepsakes, and many are presented for exchange in mixed batches of Sri Lankan currency. As the highest-denomination note in general circulation issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka during this period, the five-thousand rupee note stands as the flagship piece of modern Sri Lankan paper currency, combining sophisticated security engineering with a design programme celebrating the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

On the front, the note is printed predominantly in warm golden-amber and ochre tones, with fine guilloché latticework filling the background across much of the surface, giving the paper a richly textured, almost woven appearance. At the top left, the bold numerical denomination “5000” is printed in large dark-brown figures, while the issuing authority name appears in three scripts running across the upper portion of the note — Sinhala script text and Tamil script text flank the English inscription “CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA” in the centre of the header band. To the left of centre, the serial number R/T 555928 appears twice: once horizontally in the upper-left quadrant and once vertically along the right edge, the latter in a larger, bolder typeface forming a prominent vertical strip that doubles as a design element. The central vignette depicts the Weerawila Dam — identified by a label reading “WEERAWILA DAM” beneath the illustration — rendered in detailed intaglio-style engraving showing the concrete spillway gates, turbine housings, and reservoir stretching into the background. To the right of the dam vignette, a detailed colour illustration of a bird perched on a branch appears; this is the Sri Lanka hanging parrot, depicted in naturalistic detail with rich green and orange-red plumage rendered in vivid offset printing. In the lower-left corner, a brightly coloured butterfly is printed in yellow and orange, adding a further element of Sri Lanka’s natural fauna to the design. Two facsimile signatures appear below the central vignette alongside Sinhala script designations identifying the Governor and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. The date 2010-01-01 is printed beneath the signatures, establishing the base issue date. Along the very bottom margin, the denomination is expressed in three languages: Sinhala script text appears to the left, Tamil script text in the centre, and the English wording “FIVE THOUSAND RUPEES” is printed to the right in brown capitals. A vertical security strip is embedded within the paper towards the right side of the note, visible as a metallic or holographic thread running from top to bottom.

The reverse features a bold, richly coloured central composition dominated by a large figure of a traditional Kandyan dancer in full ceremonial costume, depicted mid-performance with elaborate headdress, ornate jewellery, and layered costume skirts in vivid red, blue, gold, and white. The dancer’s outstretched arms and dynamic posture convey movement, and the painting-style rendering captures intricate embroidery and decorative detail across the costume. Additional costumed figures are visible at the lower edges of the composition, suggesting an ensemble performance. Above the dancer, towards the upper-centre of the reverse, a small rectangular vignette depicts a carved stone relief or decorative architectural panel in brown tones. The background of the reverse is rendered in pale green and cream guilloché patterning, providing a security-grade substrate against which the figurative imagery is placed. At the upper section, Sinhala script text and Tamil script text appear above the English words “CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA” in a layout mirroring the front. The large numeral “5000” appears in brown at the top left and again prominently at the lower right of the reverse. Along the bottom of the note, Sinhala script text and Tamil script text are printed to the left and centre respectively, with the English denomination “FIVE THOUSAND RUPEES” completing the trilingual footer in dark brown lettering. A small print code reference is visible in the lower-right margin.

Whether it is a single 5,000 Sri Lankan rupee banknote or a mix of leftover currency, Webuyallcurrency.com exchanges Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes and other foreign coins and notes for cash in one straightforward process.

• Indicate the quantity of 5,000 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com helps you exchange old coins and banknotes with no fuss, combining your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes with other foreign currency into a single, hassle-free cash exchange.

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