Bradbury Wilkinson Essay for
Central Bank of Ceylon
with date 1972-5-22

In 1972 Sri Lanka had just become a republic giving up all connections to British monarchy and she although head of state, rightfully did not want to appear like the new Queen.

In 1978 J. R. Jayawardena and in 1992 R. Premadasa, as President of Sri Lanka were featured on commemorative on rupee coins which were even minted in Gold for presentation. In 2009 President Mahinda Rajapakse was featured on a commemorative Rs 1000/- banknote.

No Sri Lanka currency Notes were issued with that date and the existing design with the drawing of statue of Sage Pulasthi in medieval City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka as adopted for notes of all denomination notes in 1964, continued for the lower denominations with post republic dates starting 1973-8-21.

A series of notes designed for the adoption of the Republican Constitution on 1972 May 22, by the Government led by Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

Denomination : 2 Rupees Base Color : Dark Green & Black Under-print : Pink, Blue & Yellow English : Two Rupees Sinhala :  රුපියල් දෙකයි Thamil : இரண்டு ரூபாய் Size :  114x 59 mm Spink Auction 18050 lot 109 Front Pictorial :  Sheaf of Paddy on lower left. Back Pictorial  :  Farmer plowing Paddy Field with Coconut Estate in background
Denomination : 5 Rupees Base Color : Dark Brown and Blue Under-print : Pink, Green & Yellow English : Five Rupees Sinhala :  රුපියල් පහයි Thamil : ஐந்து ரூபாய் Size :  125x 64 mm Spink Auction 18050 lot 110 Front Pictorial :  Cattleya Orchids on lower left. Back Pictorial  :  Coastal Scene with few catamarans, two huts and a Coconut trees.
Denomination : 10 Rupees Base Color : Bright Blue and Brown Under-print : Pink, Green & Yellow English : Ten Rupees Sinhala :  රුපියල් දහයයි Thamil : பத்து ரூபாய் Size :  140x 70 mm Spink Auction 18050 lot 111 Front Pictorial :  Ferns on left. Back Pictorial  :  Male Rubber tapper in Estate. Note this back is different in detail from similer back for SWRD essay

Front: Portrait of Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike on right facing front left. At top ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව in Sinhala, with இலங்கை மத்திய வங்கி in Thamil and CENTRAL BANK OF CEYLON below in English above ශ්‍රී ලංකාණ්ඩුව වෙනුවෙන් නිකුත් කරන ලද මේ මුදල් නෝට්ටුව ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ඇතුළත ඕනෑම මුදල් ගණනක් ගෙවිම සඳහා නිතියෙන් වලංගුය in three lines. The Numeric date 1972-5-22 without leading zero below which Facsimile Sinhala signature of N. M. Perera above මුදල් ඈමති, and of Herbert Tennekoon above මහ බැංකුවේ අධිපති below. Value in Sinhala රුපියල් Thamil ரூபாய் and English RUPEES Serial No at lower left and upper right.
Back: On top ශ්‍රී ලංකා මහ බැංකුව in Sinhala, இலங்கை மத்திய வங்கி in Thamil and CENTRAL BANK OF CEYLON in English below. Value in Sinhala රුපියල් Thamil ரூபாய் and English RUPEES At bottom margin in small script
BRADBURY WILKINSON & C^O L^D NEW MALDEN. SURREY, ENGLAND.

I first saw an example of this essay few years ago at a display in Sri Lanka. It was probably the specimen given to her for approval. As I remember it was the BMICH Museum for SWRD and MrsB. which in 2006 separated to two Museums, or in a small display at Tintagel, the former Colombo Residence of SWRD and MrsB. In 2019 visit to the BMICH Museum I did not find it on display, although some Color Trials of SWRD are on display. So I probably saw it at Tintagel. Need to check.

The notes at 240,218 and 195 dpi are displayed at about 50 dpi if assuming height of 1971 notes.
If you have any of missing images or images of higher resolution please contribute to kavanr @ gmail.com

In 2015 September 29th Spink Auction 15009 lot 159 the Rs2 and Rs5 described as quite possibly unique, a wonderful new discovery sold for £2500 +44%BP+V.
In 2018 April 11th Spink Auction 15009 lot 179 the Rs10 described as almost certainly unique, a superb 'banknote that never was' sold for £3500 +44%BP+V.
From 2018 October 3rd Spink Auction in PCGS Currency holders as part of Ibrahim Salem collection of World banknotes lots 109-111 with total estimate £6500-£9500 remained unsold.