Sri Lankan shares fell for a fifth straight session on Tuesday to hit their lowest closing level in nearly six months, as investors sold telecom and diversified shares. The Colombo stock index ended 0.06 percent weaker at 6,348.53, its lowest close since December 22. The index fell 0.7 percent last week, its third straight weekly fall.
Shares in Dialog Axiata Plc fell 1.4 percent, while Sri Lanka Telecom Plc closed 0.8 percent weaker and Asiri Hospital Plc ended 2 percent lower. "The market is bottoming out and we have seen the index has been almost flat in the last two days. We expect it to bounce back once investors see any positive news," said Hussain Gani, deputy CEO at Softlogic Securities. Turnover stood at 876.4 million rupees ($5.50 million), less than this year's daily average of 969.4 million rupees.