The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Friday as dollar sales by two private banks helped offset demand for the greenback from importers, dealers said. The private banks might have sold dollars on behalf of the central bank, some dealers said. Officials at the central bank were not available for comments. The rupee ended at 144.00/20 per dollar, nearly flat from Thursday's close of 144.00/10.
"There was demand for dollars from importers. But we saw two private banks selling dollars at 143.90 to prevent any further fall," said a currency dealer, asking not to be named.