Sri Lankan stocks fell on Monday as small investors skimmed profits on select shares after last week's record gains, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index fell a provisional 0.23 percent to 1,775.56 points. The bourse hit a new life closing high of 1,779.66 on Friday. The index has gained more than 17 percent so far this year on upbeat corporate earnings and gains in the construction sector, which is seen benefiting from post-tsunami rebuilding.
Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd fell 1.04 percent to 142.50 rupees, while Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka fell 1.36 percent to 36.25 rupees.
Asian Cotton Mills Ltd fell 1.09 percent to 22.75 rupees. Bogala Graphite Lanka Ltd fell 3.36 percent to 64.75 rupees.
However, the Milanka index, which tracks the most liquid and highly capitalised stocks, rose a provisional 0.05 percent to 2,439.27 points.
Total market turnover was below average at 237.79 million rupees, with 21 million rupees of foreign purchases and 29 million rupees worth of foreign sales.