The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 56.17 points lower at 6,155.27 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 25.57 points lower at 3,466.57 down 0.73 percent.
Turnover was 565 million rupees down from 3.4 billion a day earlier.
Foreigners brought 221 million rupees worth shares while selling 53 million rupees in a day that 38 stocks advanced and 157 stocks declined.
Nestle Lanka contributed most to the index closing at 1980.00 rupees up 68.90 rupees, The Good Hope gained 223.60 rupees to close at 1399.90 rupees and The Bukit Darah gained 5.30 rupees to close at 705.70 rupees.
Sampath Bank has the largest gold portfolio among private commercial banks,LB Finance has a 24 percent portfolio for pawning gold and Swarnamahal Financial Services involved in gold jewelry lost following the imposition of a ten percent import tax on gold, brokers said.
LB Finance lost 5.80 rupees to close at 128.00 rupees and Swarnamahal Financial Services closed at 2.40 rupees down 30 cents.
Negative contributors included John Keells Holdings losing 4.40 rupees to close at 265.10 rupees, Commercial Leasing and Finance lost 20 cents to close at 4.00 rupees and Ceylon Cold Stores lost 11.90 rupees to close at 162.90 rupees.
Pan Asia closed at 19.50 rupees up 20 cents. Union Bank of Colombo closed flat at 18.00 rupees and Commercial Bank of Ceylon lost 50 cents to close at 115.30 rupees.
Hatton National Bank closed at 161.40 rupees down 1.30 rupees following a crossing of 200,000 shares at 162 per share and Sampath Bank closed at 202.10 rupees down 6.00 rupees with a crossing of 275,289 shares at 200 rupees per share. Distilleries Company crossed 312,000 shares at 193 rupees a share to close at 191.30 rupees down 1.60 rupees, The Lions Brewery closed at 385.60 rupees down by 13.40 rupee and Ceylon Tobacco Company closed at 1004.90 rupees up 2.10 rupees.