The Colombo bourse closed the trading week on a negative note with both the All Share and the Milanka price indices down fairly sharply with a big transaction of over 2 million Distilleries enabling a turnover of Rs.161.1 million, up from the previous dayRs.85.7 million.

"Other than for the Distilleries transaction which accounted for more than Rs.110 million, some activity in Ceylon Hospitals (Durdans) where nearly 0.2 million shares changed hands and a buy back by Associated Electrical Corporation (AEC), there was very little activity," Prashan Fernando of DFCC Stockbrokers said.

He said that there was institutional interest in the hospital stock with both buyer and seller being institutional investors.

Distilleries saw slightly over 2 million shares done between Rs.53.25 and Rs.56 with a big parcel of 2 million changing hands at a price of Rs.53.25 during morning trading.

Other than this transaction there were five trades, one of a thousand at Rs.56 and four more in parcels of 400 shares and less between Rs.54.75 and Rs.56.

Ceylon Hospitals traded between Rs.52.50 and Rs.53.50 gaining a rupee to close at Rs.52.50 on nearly 0.2 million shares netting Rs.9.9 million to turnover.

3,800 AEC were purchased on the company’s buy back offer at the Rs.1,800 price contributing Rs.6.8 million to turnover.

Nearly 2 million Nawaloka Hospitals too traded yesterday between Rs.2 and Rs.2.10 closing flat at Rs.2.10 while over 0.1 million Asian Hotels Properties traded between Rs.29.50 and Rs.31.50 losing 50- cents to close at Rs.30.