COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady near its record low on Friday in dull trade as exporter dollar sales offset importer greenback demand and inward remittances, dealers said.

The rupee ended at 143.23/27 per dollar, compared with Thursday’s close of 143.22/27, and not far from an all-time low of 143.30 hit on Nov. 27.

“There were some exporter (dollar) conversions due to favorable euro rates,” said a currency dealer.

On Friday the euro snapped back after soaring 3 percent on Thursday.

“The central bank is also comfortable at these levels and we see state banks coming in when it (rupee) touches 143.20 and also they are not allowing the rupee to go beyond 143.25,” the dealer said.

Dealers said inward remittances for the festival season would ease the pressure on the local currency in the short term.