The Government of Ceylon : 1917
Two Rupee Note

LK:SCWPM #017

The Notes are 127 by 76 mm i.e. 5 by 3 inches.
Printed by Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd., London

Front : Red on Green Guilloche pattern underprint with a Rectangular Red border. THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON centered on top above Promises to pay the Bearer on Demand the Sum of the value in words TWO RUPEES in a 4.5-inch bar, with on either side a larger numeric 2 within a circle. Just below the value රුපියල් දෙකයි in Sinhala to left, and இரண்டு ரூபாய் in Thamil on right. The Black Serial number above and below below on both left and right. Two facsimile signatures below with Colombo, 1^st March 1917 to left and COMMISSIONERS OF CURRENCY to right. FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON in two lines in a red panel at bottom left of center of frame. Printer name small THOS DE LA RUE & C^o L^TD LONDON centered at upper edge of bottom margin.
Back : Blank
Water-mark : None on paper manufactured by Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd., London.

Signatures of Commissioners of Currency		Date on BankNote	First Serial #	Mintage in K
R. E. Stubbs	Bernard Senior
		1st March 1917	A/1 00001	850
			A/8 50001	400	☹
			A/12 50001	1516

The Principal currency note Ordinance (No. 32 of 1884) was amended by Ordinance No.1 of 1917 to permit the issue of the one and two rupee denominations.

Only a rainbow coloured effect in front protects against forgery of this note without a watermark.

☹ - These notes Lost in SS Mongolia, sunk By WWI Enemy Action.
SS Mongolia was a 9505 ton passenger and cargo liner built for the P&O Steam Navigation Company. Launched in 1903 she was sunk 50 nautical miles south by west of Bombay, inward from London with passengers and mail on 1917 June 24th, she struck a mine laid by SMS Wolf. Many fo the survivors made it by lifeboat to a nearby island from which they were later rescued.

The notes were demonetized with all notes dated before January 1, 1940 on 1946 April 13th and ceased to be legal tender with effect July 31, 1946.

The details of this issue are from Sri Lanka Currency of Recent Times 1938-1985 T. M. U. Sallay, 1986 Colombo:Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The 144 dpi image is from a Spink Auction Listing and displayed at 50 dpi.
If you have this note, I would be grateful to get a 300 dpi scan which will be posted with desired acknowledgement.