Sri Lankan stocks, rupee gain; polls awaited

Sri Lankan shares edged higher on
Friday, snapping a four-day losing streak, as investors picked
up banking and beverage shares ahead of the presidential vote on
Nov. 16.
** The country’s main Tamil party on Thursday announced their
support for Sajith Premadasa, the housing minister and one of
the two presidential front-runners, giving him an edge over his
rival Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
** There are growing concerns over giveaways promised by the two
top presidential candi