Nov 05, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up at 0.20 percent on Thursday following a policy statement by the Prime Minister in the afternoon with gains in blue chip stocks, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed up 13.82 points at 7,017.39 higher 0.20 percent. S&P SL20 closed 8.18 points higher at 3,792.79 up 0.22 percent. “The market turned during the afternoon following special statement in Parliament by the PM on medium term economic framework of the present Government,” Lanka Securities said. Turnover was 779.8 million rupees with 76 stocks closing positive against 56 negative. The main index showed gains in John Keells Holdings closing at 181.50 rupees, up 2.50 rupees with one off the floor trade of 200,000 shares at 179.80 rupees. Hemas Holdings closed at 85.60 rupees, up 2.60 rupees and Nestle Lanka closed at 2,050.00 rupees, up 19.10 rupees with an off the floor trade of 30,000 shares at 2,050.00 rupees. Access Engineering closed flat at 23.30 rupees. Foreign investors emerged as net buyers, with net inflow recording at 17 million rupees for the day.