Sri Lanka is the only country that gives a prominent place to its traditional dances on its currency notes. It also gives importance to historical and other cultural factors on these notes. Any image that appears on a national stamp or on a national currency note, indicates that due respect is given to that selective image by the nation. In other words, it implies that the State sees that recognition is given to the particular image. At Present, six Sri Lankan dances have been printed on currency notes indicating that State recognition is given to national dances as well as to local artistes.
Earlier, the currency notes of Sri Lanka were in different values including Rs 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, and Rs.10. Now, coins have replaced these currency notes.
Rs. 20 note
On the back of the Rs.20 currency note the images of a Kandyan Ves dancer and a Geta Bera drummer are printed vertically. To add an aesthetic value to the currency a Punkalasa appears on the t top right corner of the note along with a Guard Stone indicating the prosperity of the country. The note is in a beautiful reddish maroon colour and its dimensions are 128 x 67 mm.
A Rs.50 note is also use in Sri Lanka. A low country dancer, a Vadiga Patuna performer and a Yak Bera drummer are depicted on the back of the blue colour Rs.50 note. Like in the Rs. 20 currency note, a Punkalasa and a Guard stone are beautifully depicted at the right upper corner of the currency. Besides these, a floral design known as the Liyavela also decorates the back of the currency note. A lightly printed Sri Lankan map is used as a background for the artistes. The dimensions of the currency note are 133 x 67 mm.
The Rs. 100 note is another valuable item in Sri Lanka. At the back of the Rs.100 currency note, a Tamil classical Bharata Natyam dancer along with a Mirudangam player is beautifully printed. It implies that a prominent position is given by the State to the Tamil classical dance and cultural practices. Besides these images, at the top right of the note, some more objects are beautifully depicted. A Naga Guard stone and a double floral decorative design or Dvithva Liyavela adorn the top right corner of the currency note. A light Sri Lankan map is printed as a background for the images of the artistes. The currency note is printed in dark yellowish-orange and the dimensions of the note are 138 x 67 mm.
Rs. 500 note
The back of the purplish coloured current Rs. 500 note contains two vertical aesthetic images. One is the Thelma Netuma dancer and the other is a Yak Bera drummer. Like in all the other Sri Lankan currency notes, the Sri Lankan map is used as the background for the artistes. The dimensions of the Rs. 500 currency note are 143 x 67 mm.
The Rs 1,000 currency note is printed in a very beautiful green colour. On the back of it, a Sabaragamuwa dancer, (Malpadaya Netuma dancer) and a Davul Bera drummer are beautifully depicted. The top right of the currency note depicts a Guard Stone as well as a Guardian Deity. The currency note is further adorned with a beautiful floral design known as a Dvithya Liyavela. Like most of the other Sri Lankan currency notes, it also contains a Sri Lankan map. It is used as the background for the images of the artistes.
Though the Sri Lankan map is set as a background but it is not very visible. The images of the artistes are vertically depicted. The total dimensions of the currency note are 148 x67 mm. A Rs. 2000 currency note is also in circulation at present. A beautiful painting of a female adorns the back of the note. In this currency note, no image of a dancer is seen.
Rs. 5,000 note
The back of the light yellowish colour Rs 5000 currency note also contains two different mask dancers’ images. Vertically this currency note depicts Nagaraksha and Gurulurasksha dancers.
To adorn the currency on the top of it is an auspicious Rathnaprasadaya Guard Stone and on the right side is a floral Kalpavruksha design are beautifully portrayed. The total dimension of the currency note is 153 x67mm.
All these dance images depicted in the Sri Lankan currency notes reveal the fact how due respect is given to numerous dance forms of Sri Lanka and artistes of those dance forms. It should be appreciated how the State respects different cultural and dance forms equally.