Sri Lankan stocks rose on Wednesday, led by hotel company shares, with investors upbeat about the chances of renewed peace talks between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels to consolidate a two-year truce, brokers said.
The key Colombo all-share index rose a provisional 0.16 percent, or 2.32 points, to 1,432.57. The bourse has gained 34 percent so far this year.
Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim is visiting the north to meet the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's political leadership, seeking to end an 18 month impasse in stalled peace talks.
Brokers also took heart from comments by the rebels' political wing that the Tigers were prepared to negotiate the terms of their central demand for interim self rule in the north and east - the main sticking point in efforts to seal a lasting peace after a two-decade civil war. However political analysts and Norwegian truce monitors alike say it will be months at best before talks resume.