📉 LKR Depreciates 5.4% YTD Amid Escalating External Sector Pressures

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) announced that the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has experienced a year-to-date depreciation of 5.4% against the US Dollar as of late May 2026. • Key Driver: The CBSL attributes the currency decline to heightened external sector pressures following the escalation of the Middle East conflict since late February 2026. • Regional Context: This downward movement aligns with broader currency depreciation trends observed in peer economies across the region during the same period. • Exchange Rates: As of May 29, 2026, official daily exchange rates stood at a buying rate of Rs. 324.45 and a selling rate of Rs. 334.24 per US Dollar.