Sri Lanka stocks rose to a fourth consecutive record closing high on Thursday on buying in select shares mainly in investment trusts, after a power failure and technical glitches delayed trade, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index rose a provisional 0.35 percent, or 5.67 points, to 1,640.50 points, after two hours late. The index hit its previous closing high of 1,632.77 points on Wednesday. The bourse has gained more than 9.0 percent so far this year, boosted mainly by a strong construction sector seen benefiting from post-tsunami reconstruction.
The Milanka index that tracks the most liquid and highly capitalised stocks ended flat at 2,262.7 points. "Investors are anticipating investment trusts to do well and to put out good earnings," said China Amaratunga, analyst at Asia Securities, adding that investment trusts were benefiting from the stock markets recent bull-run.
The Investment Trust index rose 12.6 percent, or 957.33 points, to 8,553.04 points.
Ceylon Investment Co Ltd rose 17.7 percent to 123 rupees. Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust Ltd rose 29.73 percent to 240 rupees.