Sri Lankan shares ended marginally lower on Thursday, near a four-week low, weighed down by losses in shares of diversified companies such as Distillers Sri Lanka Plc. The market was also looking for the central bank decision on key monetary policy rates scheduled on Friday.
The Colombo stock index ended 0.06 percent weaker at 6,479.71, its lowest since April 11. The index lost 0.37 percent last week, its second straight weekly fall. Shares of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka Plc closed 3.2 percent lower while Carson Cumberbatch Plc fell 3.4 percent and Lanka ORIX Leasing Plc ended 2 percent down and Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc fell 0.7 percent. Shares in conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc ended 0.1 percent down.
Turnover stood at 618 million rupees ($3.92 million), less than this year's daily average of 1.03 billion rupees. Foreign investors net bought 86.8 million rupees worth of equities on Wednesday, but the market has seen a net foreign outflow to 400.2 million rupees worth of equities so far this year.