Additional Rs.1,000 currency note in early 2008

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is planning to issue a security upgraded Rs.1,000 note under the “Sri Lanka Heritage Series” in early 2008. This is the first new Rs.1,000 note which carries the signatures of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the Minister of Finance, and the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

The main objective of introducing advanced security features is to minimize the increasing threat of counterfeiting high denomination notes. The note contains several current and new advanced security features. The 4 mm. wide ‘STARCHROME’ with a window effect on the front of the note, changes from red to green when the note is tilted up and down with clear text showing the value of the note (Rs.1,000), the country (Sri Lanka) and the motif (butterfly). A specific water mark by way of a cornerstone is also included as diagonal bars at four corners of the note. Given these added security features, the general public will now be able to distinguish between a genuine and counterfeit note easily, the bank said this week.

The new note will be added to circulation along with the existing Rs.1,000 notes.