The Sri Lanka rupee opened weaker on Friday at 302.10/18 against the US dollar, edging down from 302.05/18 a day earlier, while government bond yields across key maturities held broadly steady.
Sri Lanka rupee opens softer at 302.10/18 against USD as bond yields remain unchanged
The Sri Lanka rupee slipped slightly at market open on Friday, quoted at 302.10/18 against the US dollar compared to 302.05/18 in the previous session. Dealers attributed the movement to routine foreign exchange demand, with no significant shift in underlying sentiment.
Bond trading was largely steady across maturities. The 15 December 2026 bond was unchanged at 8.20–8.30 percent, while the 15 September 2027 issue held at 8.65–8.75 percent. The 15 March 2028 bond was quoted around 8.90–9.00 percent. Longer tenors also showed little movement, with the 15 June 2029 trading at 9.42–9.47 percent and the 15 December 2029 slightly softer at 9.52–9.54 percent. Meanwhile, the 15 May 2030 and 01 July 2030 bonds remained steady near 9.65–9.69 percent and 9.70–9.74 percent respectively. The 15 March 2031 bond ticked up to 10.00–10.05 percent from 9.98–10.05 percent, and the 15 December 2032 issue stayed firm around 10.39–10.44 percent.
Telegraphic transfer rates reflected the broader FX market, with the US dollar quoted at 298.50 buying and 305.50 selling. The British pound stood at 403.13 buying and 414.49 selling, while the euro was at 349.22 buying and 360.58 selling.
Equities in Colombo traded mixed. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) climbed 0.29 percent, adding 61.65 points to reach 21,026, while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.33 percent to 5,991. Market analysts noted that the currency’s weakness, steady bond yields, and modest equity moves point to a market awaiting stronger catalysts such as fresh liquidity injections or external inflows. For now, the Sri Lanka rupee remains under pressure but continues to trade within a narrow band.