Thursday, 19 March 2015 20:32
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Thursday for the second straight session as banks’ dollar sales offset importer dollar demand, while concerns over a government probe into bond sales hurt sentiment, dealers said.
Actively-traded two-week rupee forwards ended steady at 134.00/134.10 per dollar.
“Today there were some inflows into some banks, which eased the pressure. But importer demand was also there,” said a currency dealer asking not to be named.
Sri Lanka has launched a probe into allegations of corruption in government bond sales held by the central bank since 2012, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after opposition parties called for an independent investigation into a February bond auction.
The central bank also prevented a fall in the spot rupee and one-week forwards at 132.90/133.20 and 133.60/75, respectively, within the limits set by it.
Central bank officials were not available for comment.
Copyright Reuters, 2015
