Sri Lankan rupee one-week forwards ended firmer on Thursday as a state-run bank sold dollars after the central bank intervened to lift the rupee, while dollar selling by a few exporters also helped the currency gain, dealers said. One-week dollar/rupee forwards, which have been acting as a proxy for the spot rupee, ended at 146.00/30 per dollar, firmer than Wednesday's close of 146.60/80.
"Rupee ended firmer after a state bank sold dollars. It looks like the central bank is trying to keep the rupee steady because it is the end of the quarter," said a currency dealer, requesting not to be named. Dealers said the three-day dollar/rupee forwards, known as spot next, did not trade. It ended at 146.50/70 per dollar on Wednesday, compared with Tuesday's close of 147.65/85.