April 5 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan stocks closed slightly higher on Monday, helped by gains in material and industrials.

* The CSE All-Share index ended up 0.34% at 7,217.83. The index posted a second consecutive weekly gain last week, up 1.35%.

* Conglomerate Hayleys and activated carbon maker Haycarb were the main drivers of the index on Monday, gaining 5.7% and 8.4% respectively.

** Sri Lanka’s central bank said on Sunday that there were no plans to delay or defer payments on Sri Lanka’s development bonds and foreign currency loans obtained by the government from national banks. (bit.ly/3cRL0kq)

** Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended its COVID-19 vaccination program due to a delay in obtaining AstraZeneca injections from the Serum Institute of India, media report bit.ly/3dPpvAf said last week.

* The volume of transactions fell to 77.6 million from 86.3 million in the previous session.

* Foreign investors were net sellers, getting rid of 638 million Sri Lankan rupees ($ 3.21 million) of shares, according to exchange data.

* Stock market turnover was Rs 2.1 billion, according to stock exchange data.

* The Sri Lankan rupee was listed at 199 against the US dollar at 12:10 GMT, according to data from Refinitiv.

* For a report on global markets, click

* For a report on major currencies, click on