5000 Rupees

Thomas De La Rue has printed Sri Lanka's higher denominations for decades, and this note continues that relationship into the polymer-adjacent era — though it remains on cotton. The 5000 Rupee denomination was introduced in 2004, a significant upward step in the island's currency ladder, partly in response to sustained inflation that had been grinding purchasing power down since the 1990s.

The P#128 series spans an unusually long issue window, with multiple date variants across the run. Collectors should treat each year as a distinct pickup, as minor security feature updates were incorporated without public announcement.