BENGALURU: Sri Lankan shares inched higher on Friday, aided by gains in utilities stocks.

The CSE All-Share index settled up 0.02% at 11,442.55.

Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide PLC and Nation Lanka Finance PLC were the top percentage gainers on the index, rising 50% each.

Sri Lanka must make further efforts to raise fiscal revenue if it is to maintain economic stability and restore debt sustainability, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday.

Trading volume on the CSE All-Share index rose to 29.3 million shares from 25 million in the previous session.

Sri Lanka shares end higher as energy, consumer discretionary gain

The equity market’s turnover rose to 776.6 million Sri Lankan rupees ($2.6 million) from 756.8 million rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign investors were net buyers, purchasing stocks worth 82.7 million rupees, while domestic investors were net sellers, offloading shares worth 760.7 million rupees, the data showed.