Sri Lankan shares edged down on Tuesday, falling for a second session amid fears of further declines due to worries over a higher budget deficit and economic growth, brokers said. The benchmark share index closed 0.15 percent lower at 5,970.40.
The island nation's economy grew at 4.8 percent last year, slowing from the previous year's 4.9 percent, government data showed on Tuesday, while it expanded 2.5 percent in the December quarter, down from a revised 5.6 percent in the previous quarter.
Foreign investors sold 16.7 million rupees ($115,331) worth of shares on Tuesday, extending the net foreign outflow so far this year to 435.4 million rupees worth of shares.
Turnover stood at 731.4 million rupees, below this year's daily average of 774.4 million rupees. Shares in Ceylinco Insurance Plc fell 0.79 percent while biggest listed lender Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc eased 1.23 percent.