1 Rupee 1944, British Ceylon
| in Krause book | Number: 34 |
| Years of issue: | 12.07.1944 |
| Edition: | A/42 995001 - A/45 495000 - 2 500 000 |
| Signatures: | Commissioners of currency: H. J. Huxham & C. H. Collins |
| Serie: | 1941 Second issue |
| Specimen of: | 20.12.1941 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 113 х 63 |
| Printer: | Issue Department of the Bank of India |
* 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:
The Sri Lanka Lion (Panthera leo sinhaleyus), also known as the Ceylon Lion, was a prehistoric subspecies of lion, endemic to Sri Lanka. It appears to have become extinct prior to the arrival of culturally modern humans, c. 37,000 years BC.
This lion is only known from two teeth found in deposits at Kuruwita. Based on these teeth, P. Deraniyagala erected this subspecies in 1939. However, there is insufficient information to determine how it might differ from other subspecies of lion. Deraniyagala did not explain explicitly how he diagnosed the holotype of this subspecies as belonging to a lion, though he justified its allocation to a distinct subspecies of lion by its being "narrower and more elongate" than those of recent lions in the British Natural History Museum collection.
Avers:
HM The King George VI.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George, 14 December 1895 - 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.
This engraving is done from the portrait by photographer Dorothy Wilding, made in 1937, after the Coronation Day of His Majesty. The original portrait is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
The value රුපියලයි in Sinhalese language is on left side and in Tamil on right side.
Denominations in numerals are in top corners, in words centered.
Revers:
Ceylonese sit on Sri Lankan elephant. On right site is a cocoa palm.
The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60-75 years. The species is pre-eminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.
Elephas maximus maximus is the type subspecies of the Asian elephant, first described by Carl Linnaeus under the binominal Elephas maximus in 1758.
The Sri Lankan elephant population is now largely restricted to the dry zone in the north, east and southeast of Sri Lanka. Elephants are present in Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Minneriya National Park but also live outside protected areas. It is estimated that Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in Asia. Human-elephant conflict is increasing due to conversion of elephant habitat to settlements and permanent cultivation. 
Denominations in numerals are in all corners.
Comments:
There are two varieties: with straight edge and perforated.
The paper manufactured by "Messrs Portals Ltd".
The notes were demonetized with all notes dated before 1950 December 31st on 1955 August 26th and ceased to be legal tender with effect 1956 August 31st.
Issued in 100000 booklets.
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