Sri Lanka, March 3 -- The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended the day in the red, dropping by 311.37 points (1.89%) to close at 16,167.30 today (03).

The decline was largely driven by price losses in significant counters such as Hatton National Bank (HNB), Melstacorp (MELS), and Bukit Darah (BUKI). The turnover crossed Rs. 1.5 billion, reflecting subdued investor participation, with foreign investors closing as net sellers.

The banking sector was the main contributor to the negative movement in the ASPI, with HNB, Commercial Bank (COMB), and National Development Bank (NDB) among the key detractors. On the other hand, Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC), Spencer's PLC (SPEN), and Ahun Holdings (AHUN) emerged a...