May 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka stocks fell slightly today at the Colombo Bourse as investors sold shares across the board. Losses by the largest deal of the day, foreign purchasing of a large chunk of John Keells Holdings, offset the gains from Lanka IOC.

Main Colombo All Share Price Index fell 4.29 points or 0.17% to close at 2,562.70 while the highly capitalized Milanka Price Index lost by 8.32 points or 0.23% to close at 3,612.21. The turnover closed at 438 million rupees while the trading volume closed at 5.2 million shares.

Contributing 362 million to the turnover conglomerate John Keells Holdings fell 0.17% to 146.25 rupees in a trade of 2.48 million shares. Mobile operator Dialog Telekom remained flat at 24.75 rupees trading 729,900 shares while the fixed-line operator Sri Lanka Telecom trading 122,600 shares fell 0.68% to 36.25 rupees. Indian fuel giant Lanka IOC rose 8.65% to close at 28.25 rupees trading 314,300 shares.

Other major contributors to the turnover included Lanka Ceramic (225,000), Overseas Realty (115,300), Lanka Walltile (50,000) and Pelwatte Sugar (55,800).

Power and Energy sector gained 6.79% as Lanka IOC shares rose and Construction and Engineering index closed up by 2.17%. Oil Palms sector posted a loss of 2.64%. Hotels and Travels and Information Technology sectors lost above a percent. DFCC Bank - rights gained 1.75 rupees or 25.00% to top the gainer’s list. The other top gainers included Kelani Cables (12.44%), Blue Diamonds (8.70 %), Lanka IOC (8.65%) and Ceylon Cold Stores (7.41%).

Ceylon & Foreign Trades lost 27.00 rupees or 15.25% placing it at the top of the loser’s list. Other top losers included Hunas Falls (-11.01%), Indo Malay (-10.87%), Reefcomber (-10.00%) and Amana Takaful (-9.01%).

Rupee ended slightly stronger today against the dollar according to the Central Bank figures buying at 110.15 rupees and selling at 111.51 rupees.