Sri Lankan rupee closed firmer for the second straight session on Wednesday on dollar selling by banks. The rupee strengthened 1.1 percent on Wednesday to close at 175.00/50 per dollar, compared with Monday's close of 176.90/177.10, market sources said. Sri Lankan shares extended falls into a fifth session on Wednesday and closed at their lowest levels in six-and-a-half years on shattered investor confidence following the Easter Sunday bombings.
The benchmark stock index ended 0.18 percent weaker on Wednesday at 5,372.97, its lowest close since Dec. 5, 2012.