Sri Lankan stocks fall

Sri Lankan stocks fell for a third straight session on Thursday as investors took profits across the board atfer recent gains, brokers said.
The key Colombo all-share index ended down 1,444.77, or 3.70 points, to 0.26 percent. The bourse has gained almost 36 percent so far this year on upbeat corporate earnings.
"The market is quite weak and everyone is waiting for some news preferably on peace or on the budget," said one broker referring to stalled talks to convert a truce between Tamil Tiger rebels and the government into permanent peace after a two-decade civil war, and the national budget due next month.
Aitken Spence and Co Ltd fell 0.83 percent to 300 rupees.
Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd fell 0.72 percent to 69 rupees.
Total market turnover was 237.36 million rupees, with foreign purchases of 17 million rupees and foreign selling of 59 million rupees.