Sri Lankan shares rose for a seventh straight session to hit a near five-week closing high on Tuesday as investors picked up large caps, with sentiment expected to remain positive after the central bank kept key policy rates unchanged last week. The Colombo Stock Index ended 0.66 percent firmer at 6,411.27, its highest since November 30.
Turnover stood at 194.6 million rupees ($1.27 million), less than last year's daily average of 915.3 million rupees. The bourse rose 2.26 percent in 2017, posting the first annual increase in three years, after falling 9.7 percent in 2016.
Shares in Ceylon Tobacco Company Plc rose 5.5 percent, while Dialog Axiata Plc ended 3.1 percent firmer. Conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc gained 1.01 percent, while the biggest listed lender Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc closed up 1.6 percent.