Some big trades in E.B. Creasy pushed up turnover on the Colombo bourse to Rs.207.8 million from the previous day’s Rs.106.1 million with both indices edging up – the All Share by 1.95 points (0.07%) while the Milanka gained 8.24 points (0.26%).

Slightly over 0.2 million shares of E.B. Creasy, the holding company of the Lankem/Colombo Fort Land/York Arcade Holdings group traded between a low of Rs.255 and a high of Rs.279 losing Rs.14.50 to close at Rs.279.

``Most of the shares were done in big parcels,’’ a broker said. ``There was a little done outside that as well.’’

Given the quantities that were transacted, there was speculating that a large investor had sold out but there was no confirmation with a broker saying "if he did sell, he went down quite a bit on the prevailing price."

Other stocks that attracted quantities yesterday included Distilleries with over 0.1 million shares done between Rs.109.25 and Rs.110 gaining 50 cents to close at that price and nearly 0.8 million Lanka Cement which closed flat at Rs.14.

Brokers said that there was some trading in Hayleys MGT where nearly 0.2 million shares were done between Rs.57 and Rs.60 gaining Rs.2 to close at Rs.58 and Kelani Valley with over 0.1 million shares done between Rs.74.75 and Rs.77 gaining 25 cents to close at Rs.75.

Ceylon Hospitals (Durdans) announced a dividend of Rs.1.50 per voting and non-voting share, the Seylan Bank a first and final dividend of Rs.1.50 per share and Printcare a final dividend of Rs.2 per share.

The directors of Pegasus Hotel announced that they were not declaring a dividend while On’ally Holdings announced a revaluation of their property.