LKR black market rate on Sep 18, 2026: 319.86 per USD
On Friday, September 18, 2026, the US dollar traded at about 319.86 LKR on Sri Lanka's parallel (black) market at the close of observations. The day opened at 325.12 LKR, reached a high of 335.73 and a low of 318.2, a trading range of 17.53 LKR (5.51%).
Across 288 observations, the average price to buy dollars was 331.21 LKR and the average price received when selling dollars was 335.88 LKR. Over the session the Sri Lankan Rupee strengthened against the dollar (-1.62% from open to close).
Official rate vs black market rate on Sep 18, 2026
The official exchange rate published for Sri Lanka on this date was 331.88 LKR per USD. The parallel-market close of 319.86 LKR therefore implied a premium of -3.62% over the official rate — a discount to the official rate, which is unusual and often reflects thin or one-sided quotes.
How Sep 18, 2026 compares
Compared with the previous observed day (Sep 17, 2026, close 325.12 LKR), the rate moved -1.62%.
One week earlier (Sep 11, 2026) the close was 323.5 LKR, so the weekly change was -1.13%.
Thirty days earlier (Aug 19, 2026) the close was 328.25 LKR, a -2.56% move over the month.
How this daily figure is produced
ETCurrency samples Sri Lanka's USD/LKR parallel market throughout the day from peer-to-peer stablecoin order books and, where available, community submissions. Each sample is filtered for outliers and aggregated into a single buy and sell quote; the figures above are the first, highest, lowest and last of those aggregated quotes for Sep 18, 2026 (UTC).
USDT peer-to-peer prices closely track cash dollar prices in most parallel markets but are not identical to them: payment-method fees, merchant margins and local demand for stablecoins can all add a few tenths of a percent.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the dollar to Sri Lankan Rupee black market rate on Sep 18, 2026?
- The USD to LKR parallel market rate closed at approximately 319.86 LKR per US dollar on Friday, September 18, 2026, after trading between 318.2 and 335.73 LKR.
- How much did the LKR move against the dollar that day?
- From an open of 325.12 to a close of 319.86 LKR, the parallel rate moved -1.62% on Sep 18, 2026.
- What was the gap between the official and black market LKR rate on that date?
- The official rate was 331.88 LKR per USD versus a parallel close of 319.86 LKR, a premium of -3.62%.
- Was the LKR black market rate higher or lower than the day before?
- Lower: the previous observed close was 325.12 LKR on Sep 17, 2026, a change of -1.62%.
Figures are aggregated parallel-market observations for Sri Lanka in UTC and are indicative only; they are not a quote to trade. See the full USD → Sri Lankan Rupee history or today's live rate.