The main share index ended down 0.53 percent, or 30.36 points, at 5,752.36. It hit a four-month low during trade, but recovered to end at its lowest close since Aug. 28.
Shares in Hatton National Bank fell 3.08 percent to 147.80 rupees, while those of Sri Lanka Telecom dropped 5.31 percent to close at 39.20 rupees.
The Sri Lankan rupee traded slightly firmer in early trade on Tuesday on sales of a thin volume of inward remittances, but dealers said the currency is likely to remain under pressure in the absence of strong dollar inflows.
The currency had hit an all-time low last week on panic buying by importers, but recovered later.
Tuesday's turnover was 295 million rupees, well below this year's daily average of about 898.9 million rupees.
Foreign investors were net buyers of 64.3 million rupees worth of shares, extending net inflows so far this year to 18.61 billion rupees.
(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Sunil Nair)
(ranga.sirilal@thomsonreuters.com)(+94-11-232-5540)
(Reuters Messaging: ranga.sirilal.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)(twitter.com/rangab a)
http://www.xe.com/news/2013/09/03/3526621.htm