500 Rupees 2013. Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
| in Krause book | Number: 129 |
| Years of issue: | 15.11.2013 |
| Edition: | 5 000 000 |
| Signatures: | Finance Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa, CBSL Governor: Ajith Nivard Cabraal |
| Serie: | Serie 2010 Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers |
| Specimen of: | 15.11.2013 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 143 x 67 |
| Printer: | De la Rue Lanka Currency and Securities Print (Pvt) Ltd, Malawana |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Cornerstones. Denomination 500, with pattern around. The Sri Lanka Emerald Collared Parakeet (Layard's Parakeet) - Psittacula calthropae.
Avers:
In the center is the World Trade Center (Colombo).
The World Trade Center (World Trade Center Colombo) (also known as WTC Colombo or WTCC) is the tallest completed building in Sri Lanka. The height is 152 meters, so the towers are the third highest among the twin towers in South Asia. WTCC is one of 320 world trade centers in 90 countries of the world.
WTCC is operated by Overseas Realty Ceylon plc (better known as ORCPLC). ORCPLC is part of Mireka Capital Land (pvt) Ltd, which is owned by Havelock City, one of the commercial projects in Asia. The WTCC was opened on October 12, 1997 by the former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga. The center consists of two identical 40-storey towers: a 4-storey building.
The complex is located in the Fort area on Echelon Square, the area is called the Central Business District (English Central Business District (CBD)).
The Colombo Central Bus Station is approximately 2 kilometers away, the Fort railway station is 1 kilometer, the port is 1 kilometer, and the international airport is 32 kilometers.
In addition, there is a system that provides power to the main elements.
There is parking for 550 cars and easy access via a private road. 
Above is the Lankathilaka Viharaya.
Lankatilaka Vihara (Sinhalese: ලංකාතිලක විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Udunuwara of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located on Daulagala road, approximately 4 km. (2.5 mi.) away from Pilimatalawa junction and a few kilometers from the ancient buddhist temple, Gadaladeniya Vihara. It is considered as the most magnificent architectural edifice created during the Gampola era.
The history of the temple goes back to the 14th century. According to historical reports this temple was built by King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D. He entrusted the construction of this temple to his Chief Minister named Senalankadhikara, who successfully finished the works of this temple. The architecture of the temple was designed by a South Indian architect named Sathapati Rayar. According to the Professor Senarath Paranavithana, Sathapati Rayar designed this temple using Sinhalese architecture of Polonnaruwa era and also with other Dravidian and Indo Chinese architectural patterns.
The vihara buildings have been built on a natural rock, called "Panhalgala Rock". Among the buildings the image house possess characteristically outstanding architectural features, embellished with traditional Sinhalese sculptures. According the facts recorded in the Lankatilake copper plaque, this image house was construct as a four storied mansion with height of eighty feet, but today only 3 stories can be seen. The walls and the ceiling of the image house has been adorned with the Kandyan era paintings and sculptures.
Rock curved inscriptions found in the temple premises with both Sinhala and Tamil sections, proclaim about the initiators and the facilities gifted to this temple by the kings.
The image house of the Lankatilaka is enriched with five devales. God Upulvan, Ganapathi, Saman, Vibhishana and Kumara Bandara are worshipped here. God Kumara bandara is believed to be the deity, who protect the Lankatilaka vihara.
In the main building, from the central entrance, you can see a statue of a meditating Buddha under the arch with a dragon, the walls and ceiling are decorated with paintings telling about 24 Buddha's life and frescoes from the time of the Kandian period. At the entrance to the temple there is a moonstone and two balustrades leading into the archway. In the central part of the temple complex the honorable place is occupied by Stupa and Bo tree, next to the temple of Vihara Ge and the Great Buddha's trail. Also on the territory of Lankatilaka Raja Maha Viharaya, stone letters in Sinhalese and Tamil languages are found on the rock, occupying a large area, prayer rooms and even a dance hall with a wooden roof resting on stone pillars located behind the main building.
Lankatilaka Raja Maha Viharaya is a prime example of medieval architectural art, during the celebration of Esala Peraher, the territory of this temple is the second most important place in Sri Lanka after Kandy. (travellanka.ru .rus)
On the right side is Sri Lanka Emerald Collared Parakeet.
It is a parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. The common name of this bird commemorates the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard; his first wife, Barbara Anne Calthrop, whom he married in 1845, is commemorated in the specific epithet.
Layard's parakeet is a green parrot, 29 cm. long including a tail up to 13 cm. The adult has a bluish-grey head and back, separated by a green collar. There is a broad black chin stripe and the tail is blue tipped yellow. The upper mandible of the male's bill is red and the lower mandible is brown.
The female is similar, but has an all black beak and less green on the face than the male. Immature birds are mainly green, with an orange bill.
Layard's parakeet is a bird of forests, particularly at the edges and in clearings, and also gardens. It is locally common. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet. It is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually in small groups outside the breeding season, when it often feeds with brahminy starlings. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a raucous chattering. It nests in holes in large trees, laying 3-4 white eggs.
In cultureIn Sri Lanka, this bird is knowns as alu girawa අළු ගිරවා (ash-parrot) in Sinhala Language.
Commemorative banknote, dedicated to the meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth countries in Sri Lanka (CHOGM), in November 2013.
In lower left corner is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.
The 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15 to 17 November 2013. Commonwealth leaders agreed on Sri Lanka as the 2013 host for the meeting when they met in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009. Sri Lanka, which was originally slated to host the summit in 2011, was accused of committing atrocities during the Sri Lankan civil war and the summit was instead held in Perth, Australia; Colombo was given the 2013 summit instead. The leaders of Canada, Mauritius, and India boycotted the summit, citing alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka against its Tamil minority. Protests were also banned during the summit. President Mahinda Rajapaksa summarised the summit's events as: "Issues covered in the communique include development, political values, global threats, challenges and Commonwealth cooperation." However, the meeting was overshadowed by controversy over Sri Lanka's human rights record and the alleged war crimes during the final stages of the civil war. This was the first time in 40 years that the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, was not present at the CHOGM. (notes.lakdiva.org)
In top right corner is The Sri Lanka Lion (Panthera leo sinhaleyus), with sword (from coat of arms). About The Sri Lanka Lion, please, read watermark description here!
Numeric 500 at upper left and lower right. At bottom center the value රුපියල් පන්සියයයි in Sinhala, ஐந்நூறு ரூபாய் in Thamil and Five Hundred Rupees in English, of decreasing font size.
ශ්රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව in Sinhala at Top center, with smaller இலங்கை மத்திய வங்கி in Thamil and English CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA on next line.
Legality Legend in 3 lines
"ශ්රී ලංකාණ්ඩුව වෙනුවෙන් නිකුත් කරන ලද මේ
මුදල් නෝට්ටුව ශ්රී ලංකාව ඈතුළත ඕනෑම මුදල් ගණනක්
ගෙවිම සඳහා නිතියෙන් වලංගුය"
In English: "Issued on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka
Banknote legally valid for payment in Sri Lanka".
Revers:
In top right corner is the Padmanidhi Guard Stone (VIII century) made on Gneiss Anuradhapura, which is now is Sri-Lanka National museum, in Colombo.
The dwarf figures known as yaksas or bahirawas were used in place of the Pot of Plenty. These figures represent two yaksas vested with the responsibility of protecting the wealth of god Kuvera that is said to be stored in the ocean. The headdresses of the yaksa figures of some guard stones had been designed in the shape of Sankha (conch) or Padma (lotus). These sculptures were used with the belief that they provide protection to the building. The best examples of Padma guard stone are at Abhayagiri stupa at Anuradhapura and at the entrance to the palace of Vijayabahu I.
Across all field of banknote is floral motive Dvithva Liya vela.
Traditional Sinhalese art has a floral motifs depicted with two similar creepers called Dvithva liya vela. These flower bands are combined or run parallel to each other in a regular pattern.
A map of Sri Lanka appears in the background, centered.
This banknote shows a drummer with Yak Beraya and Thelme Netuma Dancer.
Thelme Netuma (Thelme Dance) belongs to the ritual of Devol Maduwa, which is performed to propitiate a deity known as Devol. The Theirne Netuma is a pure rhythmical and classical dance form of Sri Lanka Low Country dances. The main drum used is the Yak Beraya.
Yak Beraya (Ruhunu Beraya, Devol Beraya or Pahatharata Beraya) is the traditional drum which accompanies Sri Lanka Low Country dances. This instrument is a long cylindrical drum and is played with both hands.
Numeric 500 at upper left and lower right. රුපියල් පන්සියයයි in Sinhala, நூறு ரூபாய் in Thamil and Five Hundred Rupees in English, in 3 lines of decresing font size at lower left.
ශ්රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව in Sinhala, ஐந்நூறு ரூபாய் in Thamil and CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA in English, in 3 lines of decresing font size, at center upper left.
Printer Thomas De la Rue, Sri Lanka, in tiny text DE LA RUE in bottom right.
Comments:
Commemorative banknote dedicated to the meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth countries in Sri Lanka in November 2013, in my collection.
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