Sri Lankan stocks rose on Thursday, with buying in conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd lifting the market and hopes for positive corporate news outweighing political concerns.
The key Colombo all-share index ended up 0.74 percent, or 8.94 points at 1,212,33.
Market activity of 132 million rupees was boosted by 60.5 million rupees of foreign buying - mostly on Keells - and 23 million rupees of foreign sales.
Keells, which accounts for just over 10 percent of the market and has interests ranging from supermarkets to hotels, rose 3.25 percent, or 3.25 rupees, to 103.25 rupees after announcing a one-for-10 bonus issue and 15 percent final dividend.
The market has been lacklustre since voters returned a left-leaning minority government at the island's April 2 election, leaving investors uncertain as to the direction of economic policy.
But brokers said hopes for strong corporate earnings could give it a boost.
"It's possible people are looking more at the medium to long-term perspective. We should start to see results soon and they should be quite good," said Naren Godamunne, a broker at DFCC Stockbrokers.
Central Finance Co Ltd surged 12.87 percent, or 28.50 rupees, to 250 rupees on what brokers said was speculation of a bonus issue.
Market heavyweight Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd traded flat at 15.25 rupees.
Markets are closed on Friday for a local holiday and brokers said they expect activity to be thin next week, with only two days of trading because of holidays.