About Currency Notes and coins

Features of Currency Notes
Paper Composition
All bank notes are printed in paper substrates made out of 100 per cent cotton pulp while the Rs 200 commemorative note was printed in polymer substrate

Feel of the Paper
Run your fingers over the note for the familiar feel of bank note paper, where a slight roughness in heavily printed areas and raised features are felt to the finger tips. This technique is known as "Intaglio Printing". A genuine note should not be limp or shine or look waxy.

Watermark
A clearly defined lion watermark is hardly noticeable until the note is held up to the light. This is the heraldic lion holding a highlighted sword which appears in the National Flag of Sri Lanka.

Security Thread
For denominations of Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50 and Rs. 100, the security thread is embedded in the paper as a polyester thread with micro lettering in words "Central Bank of Sri Lanka", while the thread is embedded in the paper appearing as silver dashes in Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. The thread appears as a continuous vertical line when the note is held up to the light. This thread is called "STARWIDE" and is 3 mm wide in Rs. 500 and 4 mm wide in Rs. 1,000 notes with a demetalised clear text thread having a Sri Lanka daisies design in Rs. 500 and a basket weave design in Rs. 1,000 notes.

See Through Feature
Identical shape or patterns on the front and back of the note match up (register) when the note is held up to the light. Counterfeit notes do not display exact registration of this feature between the front and back of the note. In order to identify this difference, this feature should be carefully scrutinised by holding the note up to the light.

Micro Lettering
Under a magnifying glass, the words "CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA" in tiny writing can be seen in the upper border (front) of all bank notes .

Multi Layer Latent Image
A concealed emblem consisting of the numerals of the denomination can be seen when the note is tilted horizontally at eye level. This feature is usually found in the lower middle part of the bank notes, with different patterns.

Design and Production
It takes several months to design notes/coins when it is a new series. Notes/coins are designed by the note printers or coin mints and it is mandatory to obtain approval from the Monetary Board of the Central Bank and the concurrence of the Minister of Finance for the denominations, designs and other characteristics for bank notes and for prescribing metals, weight, size, design, denominations and other characteristics for coins. Once the designs are approved, the Bank contracts the printing of the notes/minting of coins to a bank note printing/coin minting company after adhering to approved procurement procedures and guideline.

Distribution
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka should maintain and supply the commercial banks with adequate bank notes/coins in order to meet demand. Commercial banks obtain notes/coins from the Bank for circulation to the public and businesses and return them to the Bank in the form of bank deposits. These bank notes are verified by the Currency Verification, Counting and Sorting System (CVCS) through high-speed note processing machines and the unfit notes are shredded online. Serviceable notes are processed on line and re issued to commercial banks. Notes counted by cashiers using desktop counting machines too are issued to commercial banks for circulation, while unserviceable notes are destroyed by the Bank.

Public Currency Exchange Centre
A public currency exchange counter is maintained at the Bank of Ceylon, Pettah Branch, Colombo 11 (Gas Works Street). The general public can obtain notes/coins and small change currency notes/coins from this commercial bank branch which is maintained on behalf of the Central Bank.