Lanka Cement was the most traded stock for the day with 1.6 million shares done between Rs.23.75 and Rs.25 gaining Rs.1.75 to close at Rs.25 with very heavy retail interest in the stock, brokers said. They noted that the counter had been a favourite retail stock in recent weeks.

Lanka Cement generated the day’s highest turnover of Rs.39.7 million followed by NDB which gained a rupee to close at Rs.153.50 on a trading range of Rs.153 to Rs.154.

Pelwatte Sugar too demonstrated volume with nearly 0.8 million shares traded between Rs.21 and Rs.23 gaining Rs.1.50 to close at Rs.23 contributing Rs.7.7 million to the day’s turnover.

JKH edged down 25 cents to close at Rs.136.75 on over 0.1 million shares done between Rs.136 and Rs.137 with retail interest in the stock continuing to be seen, brokers said.

"By and large it was a very quiet day with more interest seen in companies of the Colombo Fort Lands group and Lanka Cement," Prashan Fernando of Acuity Stockbrokers said.

Colombo Fort Lands was down 25 cents to close at Rs.29.75 on over 0.5 million shares done between Rs.31.75 while another group company, York Arcade Holdings, lost 50 cents on over 0.3 million shares traded between Rs.13 and Rs.14.50 lost 50 cents to close at Rs.14.

Among the banking counters, other than NDB, NTB showed volume closing flat at Rs.30.50 on nearly 0.4 million shares done between Rs.30.25 and Rs.31.25 while Commercial Bank gained 50 cents to close at Rs.135 on 51,600 shares traded between Rs.132.50 and Rs.135.

HNB (Non-voting) lost a rupee to close at Rs.50.25 on 93,500 shares traded while DFCC, trading XD – a Rs. 5 per share dividend is pending - was down Rs.4.50 to close at Rs.131 on 33,200 shares. Sampath gained 25 cents to close at Rs.109 on 37,200 shares.

Radiant Gems which had attracted some interest recently saw 0.1 million shares traded gaining Rs.2.25 to close at Rs.28.