2 Rupees

Ceylon's Government currency notes of this period bypassed the commercial banking system entirely — the Government of Ceylon, not the Ceylon Government Savings Bank or any colonial bank, held direct note-issuing authority throughout these years. The extended date range across this single pick number reflects a deliberately conservative approach to currency management during and after the Second World War, with the same De La Rue plate design kept in continuous service rather than commissioning a new issue.

The signature progression tells most of the story: five distinct pairings across eight years, tracking the transition from wartime colonial financial administration to early post-independence civil service, with Wijewardene's name appearing through both the colonial and post-1948 phases.