Sri Lankan shares hit a one-year closing high on Tuesday with foreign investors buying blue chips such as John Keells Holdings Plc and as the island nation regained a trade concession from the European Union (EU). The EU on Tuesday said Sri Lanka has regained a lucrative trade concession, mainly for its top exports garments. The Colombo stock index ended 0.49 percent firmer at 6,692.33, its highest close since May 16, 2016. The index added 0.5 percent last week, its seventh straight weekly gain.

Turnover stood at 1.17 billion rupees ($7.67 million), more than this year's daily average of 889.8 million Sri Lankan rupees ($5.83 million). Foreign investors net bought shares worth 281.05 million rupees, extending the year-to-date net foreign inflows to 17.08 billion rupees.

Copyright Reuters, 2017