Clean note policy

3 January 2011 05:30 pm

The Central Bank is to take a series of new steps to educate the masses on the importance of maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in the use of currency notes and coins in circulation, Central Bank officials said.

The Central Bank implements its ‘clean note policy’ under the monetary law for this purpose. 

Superintendent of Currency of the Central Bank C.B. Karunatilake told Daily Mirror that awareness programmes such as TV and radio talk shows had already been planned in this respect, even targeting school children.

Also, he said that foreign tourists did not like to use defaced, dirty and soiled currency notes during their stay in the country.

“Upon arrival in the country, tourists first get Sri Lankan currency notes through money exchange centres. If they get soiled or defaced notes, they will have a negative impression on the country too. The clean note policy is important in terms of tourism industry as well,” he said.

Mr. Karunatilake said that currency notes gets soiled or dirty due to improper ways of handling them.

“We see vendors, butchers and bus conductors handling currency notes in an unacceptable manner.  Then, notes become unfit for circulation. We have to encourage good habits of using notes and coins,” he said.

Asked what kind of action would be taken against careless currency note users, he replied, “When any note is unfit for circulation, we will withdraw it to be replaced with a new one. However, if somebody has done it purposely, we will not issue a fresh one for him or her. It means he or she will lose the face value of the note as the immediate punishment.”

The Central Bank also says that the security features in a currency note disappear when it is soiled or defaced.

Mr. Karunatilake   said that the Bank bears a cost for the printing of currency notes. However, he declined to give further details about the cost involved and the total face value of currency notes withdrawn each year due to be being unserviceable . 

“There are certain things which we cannot divulge,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)