The Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher on Monday, lifted by retail buying in speculative counters as Sri Lanka’s bourse extended a flat-to-positive run from last week.
The All Share Price Index gained 0.20 percent, or 44.68 points, to close at 22,612, EconomyNext reported, while the more liquid S&P SL20 index added 0.16 percent (9.94 points) to 6,214. Total turnover was 2.97 billion rupees, with food, beverage and tobacco leading sectoral activity at 730.3 million rupees.
“Overall market has been stagnant, bit of retail activity seen due to bit of activation in speculative shares,” First Capital Holdings Chief Research and Strategy Officer Dimantha Matthew told EconomyNext.
Dialog Axiata was the day’s top positive contributor, climbing 3.79 percent to Rs. 35.60. Carsons Cumberbatch rose 3.23 percent to Rs. 839.50, and Sampath Bank added 0.68 percent to Rs. 149. On the downside, Commercial Bank fell 0.71 percent to Rs. 208.50, Colombo Dockyard dropped 1.52 percent to Rs. 130, and Ceylon Tobacco Company eased 0.72 percent to Rs. 1,800.25.
Listed energy firm WindForce was a notable corporate development, confirming a $18 million two-phase loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation that LankaNewz reported earlier in the day. The deal underwrites WindForce’s 13-strong battery storage pipeline and adds to the company’s recent capital-raising momentum.
Monday’s modest gain extends the post-Avurudu recovery of the bourse, with the ASPI closing the prior week flat at 22,567 on April 25.
