Sri Lankan shares rose for the second straight session on Friday as foreign investors picked up shares that had been battered in recent days, brokers said. Sri Lanka's central bank left its key policy rates unchanged as expected on Friday before the market opened, and said the decision backed its goals for stabilising inflation and fostering sustainable economic growth. The Colombo stock index ended 0.12 percent firmer at 6,143.90.
The index began the week by marking its lowest close since July 12 and fell 0.16 percent during the week, recording its second weekly decline. It is down 3.5 percent so far this year. Turnover stood at 150.5 million rupees ($942,391.98), well below this year's daily average of 844 million rupees.