LKR black market rate on Oct 16, 2026: 320.52 per USD
On Friday, October 16, 2026, the US dollar traded at about 320.52 LKR on Sri Lanka's parallel (black) market at the close of observations. The day opened at 325 LKR, reached a high of 336.09 and a low of 320.03, a trading range of 16.06 LKR (5.02%).
Across 288 observations, the average price to buy dollars was 331.15 LKR and the average price received when selling dollars was 343.85 LKR. Over the session the Sri Lankan Rupee strengthened against the dollar (-1.38% from open to close).
Official rate vs black market rate on Oct 16, 2026
The official exchange rate published for Sri Lanka on this date was 330.98 LKR per USD. The parallel-market close of 320.52 LKR therefore implied a premium of -3.16% over the official rate — a discount to the official rate, which is unusual and often reflects thin or one-sided quotes.
How Oct 16, 2026 compares
Compared with the previous observed day (Oct 15, 2026, close 325 LKR), the rate moved -1.38%.
One week earlier (Oct 9, 2026) the close was 325 LKR, so the weekly change was -1.38%.
Thirty days earlier (Sep 16, 2026) the close was 327.55 LKR, a -2.15% 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 Oct 16, 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 Oct 16, 2026?
- The USD to LKR parallel market rate closed at approximately 320.52 LKR per US dollar on Friday, October 16, 2026, after trading between 320.03 and 336.09 LKR.
- How much did the LKR move against the dollar that day?
- From an open of 325 to a close of 320.52 LKR, the parallel rate moved -1.38% on Oct 16, 2026.
- What was the gap between the official and black market LKR rate on that date?
- The official rate was 330.98 LKR per USD versus a parallel close of 320.52 LKR, a premium of -3.16%.
- Was the LKR black market rate higher or lower than the day before?
- Lower: the previous observed close was 325 LKR on Oct 15, 2026, a change of -1.38%.
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.