MONETABRIEF - Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 331.85/33 falling from 329.15/35 a day earlier, dealers said, reversing small gains made in recent weeks, as heavy bond purchases by the central bank prevented appreciation, while bond yields continued to rise.
Sri Lanka's central bank has been buying dollars and building up excess liquidity, which was described by some as a 'war chest' to dishonor, and destabilize the currency.
Sri Lanka rupee is usually depreciated by repudiating the central bank's note issue at the slightest negative domestic or external shock, under 'exchange rate as the first line of defence'.
But appreciation is prevented in a positive shock and the note issue expanded by dollar purchases to be repudiated in a negative shock, analysts have noted.
Meanwhile bond yields continued to rise.
A bond maturing on 01-Jul-28 closed at 10.50/75 Wednesday up from 10.20/40 percent.
A bond maturing on 15-Sep-29 closed at 11.05/11.10 percent up from 10.60/70 percent.
A bond maturing on 01-Aug-30 closed at 11.45/50 percent up from 11.10/15 percent.
A bond maturing on 01 February 2031 closed at 11.62/68 percent up from 10.96/11.05 percent.
A bond maturing on 01-Oct-32 closed at 11.75/90 percent, up from 11.35/60 percent.
A bond maturing on 01-Jun-33 closed at 11.95/12.05 percent up from 11.65/75 percent.
A bond maturing on 15-Oct-34 closed at 12.05/12.15 percent up from 11.93/12.00 percent.
A bond maturing on 15-Aug-36 closed at 12.00/20 percent up from 11.95/04 percent.
A bond maturing on 01-Jul-37 closed at 12.05/25 percent up from 12.05/12.10 percent. (Colombo/Sept16/2026).