The day's turnover was 263.98 million Sri Lanka rupees ($2.05 million), well below of this year's daily average of 895.5 million rupees. Foreign investors were net sellers of 11 million rupees worth of shares, but the net foreign inflow so far this year has been 36.41 billion rupees.
The central bank on Wednesday rejected all bids for 91-day T-bills at a weekly auction, which analysts saw as a move to hold down interest rates, though yields for 364-day T-bills rose for an eighth straight week. The rupee closed firmer at 128.50/60 to the dollar compared with Thursday's close of 128.75/85 on receipt of remittances amid thin importer dollar demand, dealers said.