IT, energy stocks drag Lankan shares lower

Sri ‌Lankan shares closed lower on Monday, dragged down by ​losses in information technology and energy stocks.

The CSE All-Share index settled 0.48% lower at 22,253.52 points.

SMB Leasing PLC and ‌Kotmale Holdings were ‌the top ​percentage ‌losers ⁠on ​the index, ⁠down 25% and 8.44%, respectively, on the day.

Trading volume on the index fell to 44.3 million ⁠shares from 75.8 million ‌shares ‌in the previous ​session.

The equity market’s turnover ‌fell to 1.18 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($3.54 million) from 1.88 billion rupees in ‌the previous session, according to exchange data.

Foreign ⁠investors ⁠were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 158.6 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 1.18 billion rupees, the data showed.