Sri Lankan stocks up

Sri Lankan stocks rose on Friday with speculation of dividend payments on blue chips driving retail interest in select stocks, brokers said.
The key Colombo all-share index ended up 0.46 percent, or 6.16 points, at 1,337.06. The Milanka index, which tracks the more liquid and highly capitalised stocks, rose 0.71 percent, or 14.30 points, to 2,021.42.
Total turnover was 219 million rupees, with foreign sales of 25 million rupees and foreign purchases of 21 million rupees.
He said institutional investors on the other hand were still being cautious due to continued political uncertainties in the country, with the island's peace process stalled and economic growth expected to slow for the first time in two years. Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd rose 0.49 percent, or 0.50 rupees, to 103.50 rupees driven by retail interest on a stock brokers expect to go higher. The stock hit 150 rupees in late 2003.