Sri Lankan shares rose in thin trade to hit a more than three-week closing high on Thursday as foreign investors net bought stocks for the first time in nine sessions, but growth woes and rising bond yields capped gains ahead of a long weekend. Foreign investors bought a net 33.1 million rupees worth of shares on Thursday, but they have net sold 2.06 billion rupees worth shares so far this year. Sri Lanka's economy is expected to expand 5.3 percent in 2016, government data showed last week, but analysts say tight monetary and fiscal policies may curb growth.
Yields on t-bills, which are hovering at more than two-year highs, jumped by 62-90 basis points at a weekly auction on Monday. The benchmark share index, ended 0.31 percent, or 18.95 points firmer, at 6,092.45, the highest since March 1. Shares in conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc rose 1.33 percent, while Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc rose 0.52 percent. Turnover stood at 488.2 million rupees ($3.34 million) on Thursday, less than this year's daily average of 796.9 million rupees. The Sri Lankan stock market will be closed on Friday for a public holiday.