The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Tuesday as dollar selling by exporters and banks offset importer demand for the US currency, dealers said. The rupee closed unchanged at 154.85/95 per dollar. It hit a record low of 155.90 on February 14. "There was no big change as exporter (dollar) conversions offset (importer) demand," said a dealer. The local currency has weakened 0.9 percent so far this year, after declining 2.5 percent last year and 3.9 percent in 2016.
It is expected to be pressured by continued importer demand for dollars, dealers said. A gradual depreciation in the rupee and higher volatility this year are expected on account of debt repayments by the government, dealers added.
The government must repay an estimated 1.97 trillion rupees ($12.68 billion) in 2018 - a record high - including $2.9 billion of foreign loans and a total of $5.36 billion in interest. Foreign investors sold government securities worth net 3.7 billion rupees in the week ended February 21, central bank data showed.
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