Sri Lankan blue chips rose on Tuesday in renewed buying interest ahead of Friday's general election, but the main index was pushed down by selling in palm oil plantation company The Bukit Darah Co Ltd.
The key Colombo all-share index ended down 2.23 percent, or 29.27 points, at 1,284.74, but the Milanka index of the largest and most liquid stocks rose one percent, or 19.77 points, to 1,998.74.
Bukit Darah, which saw its stock price pushed up over 5,000 rupees last week by retail speculation, fell 25 percent, or 600 rupees, to 1,800 rupees on volumes of just 1,325 shares.
But most blue chips edged higher, with conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd rising 0.92 percent, or one rupee, to 110.25 rupees and Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd gaining 2.61 percent, or four rupees, to 157 rupees.
Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd led total market turnover of 177.9 million rupees and rose 1.39 percent, or 0.25 rupees, to 18.25 rupees despite seeing the bulk of 50 million rupees of foreign selling in the market.
"Fundamentals are still strong, and the big stocks may only be affected by the election in a limited way," said a broker.
Blue chips have been trading in a tight range with investors mostly on the sidelines ahead of Friday's vote, in which neither of the two main parties are likely to win a majority.
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