Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) hit a fresh all-time high yesterday (15 March) before closing flat due to retail profit taking.

The All-Share Price Index rose 20.33 points to hit a new record high of 3,865.17 points, surpassing its previous all-time high of 3,856.17 hit on Friday.

Foreigners sold a net 54 million rupees worth of shares on Monday. They have been net sellers in 36 out of the 47 trading sessions so far this year.

Sri Lanka's bourse was one of the world's best performing markets in 2009, jumping 125 percent on optimism. Low interest rates and slowing inflation have also fuelled foreign investor interest, Reuters stated.

The Central Bank expects Sri Lanka's economy to grow by more than 6 percent in 2010 compared with an expected 3.5 percent in 2009 as investor confidence continues to recover.