By Charles Haviland BBC News, Colombo

	Mangala Samaraweera describes the new banknote as a shameless act

An opposition politician has called the release an election gimmick.

The new limited-circulation note for one thousand rupees is printed in bright colours.

On one side it depicts the security forces hoisting the national flag, as they did on securing the entire coastline just before their final victory.

But the other side is the more controversial. It shows a smiling President Rajapaksa with his arms raised in a gesture of victory.

'Jealousy'

A statement from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka describes it as depicting “one nation in harmony, progressing towards prosperity under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa”.

A prominent opposition politician, Mangala Samaraweera, has reacted furiously.

Referring to the likelihood of a presidential election soon, he called the unveiling of the note a “shameless act”, adding that it was unusual for a living political personality to be depicted on a currency note.

But the governor of the Bank, Ajith Cabraal, dismissed Mr Samaraweera’s allegations as arising out of “jealousy”.

He said the island’s notes in the past had depicted King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, and coins had borne the images of two previous presidents while they were still alive.

Six months after the end of the war, Sri Lanka is still strewn with large posters showing the president and his brothers, with slogans extolling their leadership in ending the war.

A week ago the head of the armed forces, General Sarath Fonseka, resigned in disaffection, clearly believing he himself hasn’t received due credit for the victory.