Exchange rate (LKR per USD)
How many rupees it takes to buy one US dollar.
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka · As of Sep 2026 · View source
Chart of Exchange rate (LKR per USD) over time. 77.01 LKR/USD (Jul 2000) → 329.63 LKR/USD (Sep 2026).
Table
| Period | LKR/USD |
|---|---|
| Jul 2000 | 77.01 |
| Jul 2001 | 89.38 |
| Jul 2002 | 95.66 |
| Jul 2003 | 96.52 |
| Jul 2004 | 101.19 |
| Jul 2005 | 100.50 |
| Jul 2006 | 103.91 |
| Jul 2007 | 110.62 |
| Jul 2008 | 108.33 |
| Jul 2009 | 114.94 |
| Jul 2010 | 113.06 |
| Jul 2011 | 110.57 |
| Jul 2012 | 127.60 |
| Jul 2013 | 129.07 |
| Jul 2014 | 130.56 |
| Jul 2015 | 135.86 |
| Jul 2016 | 145.58 |
| Jul 2017 | 152.45 |
| Jul 2018 | 162.46 |
| Jul 2019 | 178.74 |
| Jul 2020 | 185.59 |
| Jul 2021 | 198.76 |
| Jul 2022 | 322.63 |
| Jul 2023 | 327.51 |
| Jan 2024 | 321.09 |
| Feb 2024 | 312.45 |
| Mar 2024 | 305.34 |
| Apr 2024 | 299.36 |
| May 2024 | 299.75 |
| Jun 2024 | 303.81 |
| Jul 2024 | 303.71 |
| Aug 2024 | 300.62 |
| Sep 2024 | 301.05 |
| Oct 2024 | 293.78 |
| Nov 2024 | 291.98 |
| Dec 2024 | 291.72 |
| Jan 2025 | 296.14 |
| Feb 2025 | 296.89 |
| Mar 2025 | 295.99 |
| Apr 2025 | 298.50 |
| May 2025 | 299.41 |
| Jun 2025 | 299.95 |
| Jul 2025 | 301.17 |
| Aug 2025 | 301.47 |
| Sep 2025 | 302.19 |
| Oct 2025 | 303.15 |
| Nov 2025 | 306.35 |
| Dec 2025 | 309.20 |
| Jan 2026 | 309.64 |
| Feb 2026 | 309.40 |
| Mar 2026 | 312.02 |
| Apr 2026 | 316.76 |
| May 2026 | 327.94 |
| Jun 2026 | 334.41 |
| Jul 2026 | 335.99 |
| Aug 2026 | 332.69 |
| Sep 2026 | 329.63 |
Sri Lanka's current situation
The rupee was 329.63 LKR/USD in Sep 2026, 27.44 LKR/USD versus a year earlier.
What is it?
The exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of another. A higher LKR/USD number means a weaker rupee (more rupees per dollar); a lower number means a stronger rupee. It is driven by foreign currency coming in (exports, tourism, remittances, investment) versus going out (imports, debt repayments).
A simple example
If the rate moves from 200 to 300 rupees per dollar, the rupee has weakened by a third — and a USD 100 imported phone now costs Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 20,000.
What happens when it is high
A weaker rupee makes imports (fuel, medicine, electronics) dearer, feeding inflation, but can make exports and tourism more competitive. Those with dollar debts are squeezed.
What happens when it is low
A stronger rupee makes imports cheaper and eases inflation, but can make exports less competitive. Stability matters more than the exact level.
What is a healthy range
There is no correct level; a stable, market-determined rate is healthiest. Sharp depreciation usually signals external stress. No fixed status rating is applied.
What might happen next
Official projections
No data yet
Simple statistical trend
A simple statistical trend, not a prediction of what will happen. Forecasts are uncertain and are not financial advice.
Upside (stronger/stable rupee): strong reserves, tourism and remittances, and confidence. Downside (weaker rupee): a wide trade gap, debt repayments or loss of confidence. Not financial advice.
A simple statistical trend, not a prediction of what will happen. Forecasts are uncertain and are not financial advice.
For experts
The exchange rate connects the local economy to the world — driving imported inflation, the cost of foreign debt, and the competitiveness of exports and tourism.
How we calculate this
Period-average LKR per USD (World Bank annual; CBSL monthly).