Sri Lankan stocks closed lower on Thursday, weighed down by a lack of institutional interest in blue-chip counters, despite some retail buying in smaller stocks.
The Colombo all-share index ended down 0.37 percent, or 4.76 points, at 1,282.47, with market activity totalling 188.2 million rupees.
A new government that took power in early April is several seats short of a majority and has been grappling with an unruly and divided parliament, leaving no legislation passed since the election and question marks as to its economic policies.
Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd fell 1.03 percent to 96 rupees, while Aitken Spence and Co Ltd lost 0.37 percent to 271 rupees, despite both companies posting strong full-year earnings.
Some small stocks moved up, with Colombo Land and Development Co Ltd leading turnover and gaining 7.14 percent to 3.75 rupees.
Property developer Ceylinco Seylan Development Ltd rose 5.9 percent to 4.50 rupees.