The Sri Lankan rupee closed steady for a second straight session on Tuesday as a state-run bank, through which the central bank directs the market, offered dollars at 134.00 and on sales of the greenback by banks, dealers said. The spot rupee ended steady at 134.00 per dollar, a record low the currency touched on Friday after the state-owned bank lowered the rupee's level by 20 cents.
"The state bank is selling dollars at 134.00 and we see forwards picking up on par with the spot rupee rate. It is a healthy sign," a currency dealer said on condition of anonymity. One-week forwards ended steady at 134.15/35 per dollar, while three-month forwards, trading of which picked up on Tuesday, ended little changed at 135.85/136.00, compared with Monday's close of 135.84/135.90.