Sri Lankan stocks ended lower on Tuesday as investors skimmed profits across the board but retail buying in select stocks propped up the blue chip index, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index fell by a provisional 0.11 percent or 1.75 percent, to 1,648.97 points. It reached a record closing high on Friday after a week of consecutive gains. The Milanka index - which tracks the most liquid and highly capitalised stocks - gained a provisional 0.1 percent or 2.30 points to 2,268.88.
Shares of financial services provider and real estate developer, Ceylinco Securities and Financial Services Ltd, ended 4.69 percent lower at 15.25 rupees a share.
Money broker Vanik Incorporation Ltd closed 16.67 percent lower at 1.25 rupees a share due to profit taking.
Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd rose 0.58 percent to 130.00 rupees a share.
Total market turnover was 430.9 million rupees, with 42 million rupees worth of foreign buying and 99 million rupees in foreign sales.