CBSL Printed Commemorative folder for the Rs2000 currency note with a
low serial number as they did for all previous commemorative issues,
but however in this case issued it only to staff of CBSL on 2025
September 16th. The folder was enclosed in a cellophane cover fastened
on the left at the back of the folder with a Paraffin seal with a
printed CBSL seal logo pasted on top. (not an embossed seal).
I was told by CBSL that 2000 folders hd been gifted by DeLaRue to the
CBSL staff.
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Some of the Staff with no numismatic interest tried to sell them to Numismatic market at ridiculously high prices. I put a formal complaint and requested at least 1000 folders be sold to public.
In early October I was informed that an obvious error in the new 2023
CBSL act section 48(4) prevents CBSL for selling any Numismatic item
with commemorative currency notes or coins till the act is corrected by
an Act of Sri Lanka Parliament.
Numismatic items prepared from currency notes or coins other than
commemorative currency notes or coins may be sold at a price higher
than the denomination specified in such notes or coins with the
approval of the Governing Board, and the sale of such items at a price
higher than the denomination specified in such currency notes or coins
shall be deemed not to be a contravention of section 55 or 56.
Same error is seen in the Sinhala version of the Act.
On 2025 October 14th, I met the CBSL Superintendent of Currency to
discuss a few issues. I explained that some of the folders given free
to Staff are being Black marketed to the Banknote collector market.
He confirmed that CBSL will sell identical Rs2000 folder as issued to
CBSL staff, within the next month from the CBSL Currency Museum. So
don't buy any at the Black-Market rates of over Rs30,000(US$100) each,
currently offered.
In reply to RTI 203/2025 on 2025-12-18 CBSL informed me the 2000
folders were issued Complementary to CBSL staff and 1500 folders will be
issued to public on a date To be determined.
On
2025-12-19 5PM Friday I got a e-mail reply from Suprintendt of
Currency in reply to my e-mail dated 2025-09-19 asking me to watch
CBSL social media for issue details. An hour later it was posted on
CBSL.gov.LK and
FaceBook
that one folder each will sold
from 2025 Dec 22 on a first come first served basis. Rs500 for folder
without BankNote from CBSL Publications Sales Counter at ground floor of
CBSL Economic History Museum.
Rs 2000 Notes with low serial numbers CB00-002501 to CB00-004000 were
allocated and were available at face Value at the 1st Floor Museum for
those who purchased the folder. However many left without buying the
note since they were not made aware of the Numismatic value of a low
serial Number available on the upper floor.
Unfortunately by being sold outside the folder I am told that the unsold Rs 2,000 notes were reportedly recounted nightly for audit purposes and, as a result of repeated passage through counting machines, ceased to remain uncirculated after a few days. The Stock of 1500 were sold out on 2026-01-13.
The folder was scanned at 300 dpi and displayed at 50 dpi.
I thank Nirmal Gnanasunderam for Images of packed folder given to CBSL staff
he got from a friend.
I thank Eranda Adikaram for the high resolution image of the folder seal.