Sri Lankan stocks up 1.40-pct

June 15, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lankan shares gained on Monday pushed up by the blue chips counters headed by conglomerate John Keells Holdings (JKH)and high retail interest in construction, hotels and plantations sectors, brokers said. Malwatte valley Plantations closed 33.00 rupees, up 4.25, while Udapussellawa Plantations closed at 27.

00 rupees, up 3.50.

Agalawatte Plantations closed at 25.75 rupees, up 3.25.

Aitken Spence Hotels closed at 144.

75, up 2.50, while Confifi Hotels closed at 113.50 rupees, up 9.50.

Celco giant Dialog Telekom, a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia closed at 5.50 rupees flat.

Sri Lanka’s largest privately held bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon closed at 126.

25 rupees, up 25 cents.

Index heavy Sri Lanka Telecom closed at 43.00, rupees up 1.00.

Diversified Aitken Spence closed at 623.00 rupees, down 27.00.

Foreign buying was at 491.0 million rupees, while foreign selling amounted to 610.

0 million, resulting a out inflow of 119.

0 million rupees, brokers said.

The spot dollar remained unchanged at 114.

90/95 levels in late afternoon trade, dealers said.

The Colombo All Share Price Index closed up 1.

40 percent (31.50 points) to end at 2,286.12 while the Milanka index of liquid stocks gained 1.32 percent (33.26 points) to close at 2,558.06, according to provisional stock exchange data.

Turnover was 1.18 billion rupees.

“Blue chip stocks were the main contributed to the markets up turn today,” said Shivantha Meepage of Acuity Stockbrokers.

“Retailers yet again showed interest in hotels, plantation and construction sectors.”

Brokers said 562.5 million rupees worth of JKH shares crossed (of the market deal) between 116.00 rupees and 119.00.

JKH closed at 119.75 rupees, up 3.50, while National Development Bank closed at 130.00 rupees, up 4.25.

Tokyo Cement closed at 1.67.00 rupees, up 6.75, while Lanka Cement closed at 19.

75 rupees, up 1.50 on high volumes traded.