THE purpose of this book is to present in plain language a brief history of the coinage and paper currency of Ceylon since the British occupation. It consists of material collected from both official and unofficial publications and records, primarily for my own information. The notes were published in the shape of a series of articles in the" Ceylon Trade Journal" in its issues for the months April to August, 1938, with a view to creating an interest in currency matters in the public mind, in view of a proposal to change the currency system of the Island. A few additions and alterations have since been made, and the Orders in Council and Proclamations relating to the Coinage and the" Revised" Ordinance regulating the Paper Currency included as Appendices. Though printed at the Government Press and a greater part of it based on official records, this compilation is not issued as an " official" publication and I alone am responsible for the statements it contains. I have endeavoured to avoid errors as far as possible, and if any that are noticed are communicated to me it will be appreciated.
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. H. W. Codrington, late of the Ceylon Civil Service, for his FOREWORD, for some very helpful suggestions, and for important matter obtained from his scholarly work "Ceylon Coins and Currency". I must also express my gratitude to Mr. C. H. Collins, Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr. S. Phillipson, Controller of Establishments, and to Mr. J. L. Stanislaus, Financial Assistant and Accountant, Treasury, for advice and encouragement.
My thanks are due to Mr. W. T. Loos, Office Assistant to the Chief Secretary, to Mr. N. U. Jayawardene, Commercial Assistant to the Director of Commerce and Industries, and to Messrs. C. S. Kreltszheim, H. M. de Mel and E. B. Wiratunga of the Treasury for assistance rendered in the production of this book.
I have also to express my obligation to the Printing Committee for kindly allowing this to be printed at the Government Press, to the Surveyor General for supplying blocks for the illustrations, to the Director of the Colombo Museum and Mr. M. F. S. Goonatilaka for placing at my disposal coins and notes for the purpose, and to the Government Press for the neat get-up of this book.
B. W. FERNANDO.
The General Treasury,
Colombo, February 20, 1939.
Ceylon Currency British Period 1796-1936 By B. W. Fernando, Preface.
1939, Ceylon Government Press. p.v
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