1000 Rupees 2018. 70th Independence, Sri Lanka
| in Krause book | Number: 130 |
| Years of issue: | 04.02.2018 |
| Edition: | 5 000 000 |
| Signatures: | Finance Minister: Mangala Samaraweera, CBSL Governor: I. Coomaraswamy |
| Serie: | Serie 2010 Development, Prosperity and Sri Lanka Dancers |
| Specimen of: | 30.01.2018 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 148 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 1000. The Sri Lanka hanging parrot (Loriculus beryllinus).
Avers:
The theme of the banknote is 70 years of independence of the country. Motto - "Celebrating Diversity"
In the center there are 4 buildings.
Lower, right is Halmillewa Sulugal Dambulu Viharaya, near Kebithigollewa.
It is built on the side of a cave with Brahmi letters stating it was a gift to the Sangha. The associated Devale, has a rare wooden statue of Vishnu estimated to be about a 1000 years old. This attracts devotes from all parts of Lanka.Particularly those who are pregnant come to make vows and return three months after giving birth. (notes.lakdiva.org)
Top, right is the Ketheeswaram temple.
Ketheeswaram temple (Tamil: திருக்கேதீஸ்வரம் Tirukkētīsvaram) is an ancient Hindu temple in Mannar, Northern Province Sri Lanka. Overlooking the ancient period Tamil port towns of Manthai and Kudiramalai, the temple has lay in ruins, been restored, renovated and enlarged by various royals and devotees throughout its history. Tirukkētīsvaram is one of the Pancha Ishwarams dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and is venerated by Shaivas throughout the continent. Throughout its history, the temple has been administered and frequented by Sri Lankan Hindu Tamils. Its famous tank, the Palavi tank, is of ancient antiquity and was restored from the ruins. Tirukkētīsvaram is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Shiva glorified in the poems of the Tevaram.
Literary and inscriptional evidence of the post classical period (300BC-1500AD) attests to the upkeep of the temple during the ancient period by kings of the Pallava, Pandyan Dynasty and Chola dynasties who contributed to its development up to the late XVI century. In 1575, Tirukkētīsvaram was largely destroyed by Portuguese colonials, with Pujas terminating at the shrine in 1589. Following an appeal by Arumuka Navalar in 1872, the temple was rebuilt at its original site in 1903. 
Top, left is the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics. The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island and is a well known place of devotion for both Tamil and Sinhalese Catholics. The church has been a symbol of unity not just between Tamils and Sinhalese, but also between people of different religions, including Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants.
Pope Pius XI granted the image of Our Lady of Madhu a Canonical coronation on 2 July 1924. Attendance for the August festival at times touched close to a million people before the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Situated in the heart of the conflict zone, pilgrimage to this shrine was dramatically affected by the Civil War with the presence of refugee camps around the shrine complex. It was shelled a number of times.
Lower, left is Sainthamaruthu Jummah Mosque, in Kalmunai.
In lower left corner is the image of Sri Lankan youth belonging to different faiths and the logo of the 70th anniversary of independence.
Sri Lanka’s 70th Independence Day will be celebrated on a grand scale on the theme ‘One Nation’ at the Galle Face Green on February 4.
Sri Lanka, which was relegated to the background, will proudly celebrate this year’s Independence Day after winning over the international world and regaining its world image, said Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena in a press release.
The release said a member of the British Royal Family Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex will attend the celebrations as a special invitee representing Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The British Royal Family has confirmed Prince Edward’s attendance at the 70th Independence Day celebrations following an invitation extended by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Several other foreign Heads of State and foreign delegates are also expected to attend this year’s celebrations.
The Home Affairs Ministry has made arrangements to introduce a special badge to mark the 70th Independence Day celebrations. It will depict the Independence Square and ‘70’ as a symbol of independence. On February 4 evening, a special cultural pageant and a musical show will be staged at the Colombo Town Hall Complex with the participation of a large number of local artistes.
A special traffic arrangement will be in operation in the Colombo city during the period of the Independence Day celebrations and the times on which rehearsals are made in preparation of the celebrations.
The Minister has also requested people to hoist National Flags in homes and state buildings on February 4 to mark the 70th Independence Day. (www.dailynews.lk)
On the right side is The Sri Lanka hanging parrot.
It is a small parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka hanging parrot is a small, mainly green hanging parrot, only 13 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown and rump. The nape and back have on orange tint. The chin and throat are pale blue. The beak is red and the irises are white.
Immature birds lack the orange hue to the back, have a duller rump, and have only a hint of orange on the crown. They have a faint blue throat. They have orange beaks and brown irises.
Sri Lanka hanging parrot is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually alone or in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a sharp whistled twiwittwit..twitwitwit. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet.
Sri Lanka hanging parrot is a bird of open forest. It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-3 eggs.
In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Gira Maliththa - ගිරාමලිත්තා or Pol Girwa - පොල් ගිරවා in Sinhala language.
In lower left corner is butterfly The White Four Ring (Ypthima ceylonica).
Sithirisiwwa (Sinhala).
The White Four Ring is found all over the island. It flies close to the ground. Its four wings are dark brown and lower half of the hind wings are white. There is a prominent eye spot ringed in yellow towards the tip of its four wings. The under side of the hind wings are grayish white with prominent spots of which the number and size varies. (www.dilmahconservation.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 1000 at upper left and lower right. At bottom center the value රුපියල් දාහයි in Sinhala, ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் in Thamil and One Thousand 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 guard stone at the Rathnaprasadaya of the Abhayagiri Viharaya, in Anuradhapura.
This guard stone is considered the most exquisite guard stone. This guard stone is carved with a Nagaraja symbol, which carries a pot of plenty in the left hand and a bunch of flowers in the right hand.
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 Davul Beraya and Malpadaya Netuma Dancer.
Davul Beraya is a cylindrical drum, which is shorter than Geta Beraya and Yak Beraya. This drum is accompanied in the Sabaragamuwa dance tradition and often used in Buddhist temples. The right side is played with a stick known as Kadippu and left is prayed with the hand. This drum is also used in Ana Bera (for communication).
Malpadaya Netuma belongs to the Sabaragamuwa dance form. It is associated with the ritual known as Gammaduwa to propitiate the Pattini goddess in order to obtain a good harvest, Immunity and relief from infectious diseases The main drum used is the Davul Beraya. (notes.lakdiva.org)
Numeric 1000 at upper left and lower right. රුපියල් දාහයි in Sinhala, ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் in Thamil and One Thousand 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:
Artist - Kelum Gunaseka.
Commemorative banknote dedicated to the 70th Independence, in my collection.
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