Colombo bourse turnover was boosted by Hotel Services (Ceylon) Plc transaction.

According to the Stock Exchange information, the controlling stake (51%) of Hotel Services (Ceylon) Plc (Ceylon Continental Hotel) was bought by Heyleys Plc for 1.88 billion rupees.

The sellers are

Name of the seller                                                                           No of shares sold

This acquisition will greatly benefit Heylyes group as Sri Lanka’s tourist industry is already booming. Ceylon Continental Hotel is situated in the heart of the Colombo City.

The bench mark All Share Index closed 12.54 points higher at 3844.84 while Milanka Price Index closed at 4432.80, up 4.74 points. Turnover was 2.87 billion rupees.

Heyleys Plc was up by 7.25 to close at Rs 236.00 while East West Properties gained one rupee to close at Rs 13.25 & over five million shares traded during the day. The HDFC bank shares closed at Rs 152.25, up ten rupees with the announcement of the claim they have made on EPF loans. Lanka Orix Leasing Company was up by 3.75 to close at Rs 166.75 while People’s Leasing Plc was closed at Rs 43.25, up 4.25.

Mercantile Shipping Company Plc lost 16.75 to close at Rs 150.00 but only 100 shares traded during the trading session. National Development Bank was dipped by three rupees to end the day at Rs 215.00.

Today foreign sales were huge at Rs 1.69 billion & purchases only amounted to Rs 94 million.