Sri Lankan shares recovered on Thursday, following two straight sessions of losses, on retail buying after the central bank held key policy rates steady amid signs political uncertainty was easing, dealers said. The central bank's decision was widely expected, with policymakers emphasising the need to support an economy that has been beset by production disruptions due to massive intermittent floods and prolonged drought last year.
The Colombo stock index ended 0.32 percent firmer at 6,553.21, hovering near its highest close since November 8 hit on Friday. The index gained 0.8 percent last week, its third straight weekly rise. Turnover stood at 878.1 million rupees ($5.67 million), well below last year's daily average of 915.3 million rupees.