COLOMBO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares recovered onTuesday from a near two-week closing low in the previoussession, led by financials and consumer staples, but tradingvolume was light as investors waited for more clarity on thepolitical front.
** The benchmark stock index ended 0.74% firmer at5,912.46, recovering from its lowest close since Aug. 6 hit onMonday. The index posted a loss of 0.82% last week, its firstweekly decline in eight.
** Investors have been in a wait-and-see mode after the mainopposition party named a hard-line former defence chief as itspresidential candidate, to capitalise on public clamour for adecisive leader.
** The market has been looking forward to hearing policies fromformer defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as the rulingparty's presidential candidate who is yet to be announced,dealers said.
* Gotabaya, 70, served under his older brother, ex-presidentMahinda Rajapaksa, and is widely seen as the front runner in apresidential election that must be held before Dec. 9.
** The market had gathered strength early this month amidspeculations of the wartime defence chief contesting forpresidency, dealers said.
** So far this year, the stock index has dropped about 2.3%.
** Turnover was 383.9 million rupees ($2.16 million) on Tuesday,nearly half of this year's daily average of about 653.6 millionrupees so far. Last year's daily average came in at 834 millionrupees.
** Large cap Ceylon Tobacco Company gained 3.6% and topconglomerate John Keells Holdings rose 1.4%, pushingthe overall index up.
** The rupee ended 0.4% weaker at 178.00/05 per dollar,compared to Monday's close of 177.30/50. The currency was down0.2% for the last week, but is up nearly 2.6% so far this year.
** Foreign investors bought a net 0.61 million rupees worth ofgovernment securities in the week ended Aug. 13. But the markethas suffered year-to-date net foreign outflow of 28 billionrupees, central bank data showed.
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** For a report on major currencies, click($1 = 177.9000 Sri Lankan rupees)(Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)