Annual inflation in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, rose to 2.3% in January 2026, the highest level since July 2024, up from 2.1% in December. Food inflation edged up to 3.3% from 3.0% in both November and December, despite the impact of November’s cyclone and subsequent floods, which caused significant damage to crops and infrastructure. Higher prices for sea fish, milk powder, chicken, and dried fish were partially offset by a decline in rice. Non-food inflation remained at 1.8% for the second consecutive month, driven by increases in housing and utilities, restaurants and hotels, education, health, and clothing and footwear, while transport prices fell. On a monthly basis, inflation slowed to 0.6% from 1.2% in December. source: Department of Census and Statistics - Sri Lanka

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka increased to 2.30 percent in January from 2.10 percent in December of 2025. Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka averaged 9.81 percent from 1986 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.40 percent in September of 2022 and a record low of -4.20 percent in February of 2025. This page provides - Sri Lanka Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Sri Lanka Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka increased to 2.30 percent in January from 2.10 percent in December of 2025. Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka is expected to be 2.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Sri Lanka Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 3.40 percent in 2027 and 4.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-31 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Dec 2.1% 2.1% 2.4% 2.5%
2026-01-30 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Jan 2.3% 2.1% 2.1%
2026-02-27 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Feb 2.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Price Index CPI 197.00 195.80 points Jan 2026
Core Consumer Prices 197.00 196.40 points Dec 2025
Core Inflation Rate 2.70 2.40 percent Dec 2025
CPI Housing Utilities 136.60 135.30 points Jan 2026
CPI Transportation 224.80 224.20 points Jan 2026
Export Prices 198.28 243.51 points Dec 2025
Food Inflation 3.30 3.00 percent Jan 2026
GDP Implicit Price Deflator 253.00 255.30 points Sep 2025
Import Prices 246.38 269.83 points Dec 2025
Inflation Rate YoY 2.30 2.10 percent Jan 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.60 1.20 percent Jan 2026
Producer Prices 237.30 236.50 points Nov 2025
PPI YoY 0.40 0.90 percent Nov 2025


Sri Lanka Inflation Rate
In Sri Lanka, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is composed of two main groups: Food Items (41%) and Non-food Items (59%). Food items are mainly composed of: Bread & Cereals (8%), Fish & Sea food (6%) and Vegetables (6%). The most important Non-Food Items are: Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels (24%), Transport (12%), and Restaurants & Hotels (6%).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.30 2.10 67.40 -4.20 1986 - 2026 percent Monthly
2021=100

News Stream
Sri Lanka Inflation Rises to 2024-Highs
Annual inflation in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, rose to 2.3% in January 2026, the highest level since July 2024, up from 2.1% in December. Food inflation edged up to 3.3% from 3.0% in both November and December, despite the impact of November’s cyclone and subsequent floods, which caused significant damage to crops and infrastructure. Higher prices for sea fish, milk powder, chicken, and dried fish were partially offset by a decline in rice. Non-food inflation remained at 1.8% for the second consecutive month, driven by increases in housing and utilities, restaurants and hotels, education, health, and clothing and footwear, while transport prices fell. On a monthly basis, inflation slowed to 0.6% from 1.2% in December.
2026-01-30
Sri Lanka Inflation Holds at 2.1% in December
Sri Lanka’s annual inflation in the capital, Colombo, remained unchanged at 2.1% in December 2025, its highest level since July 2024 but below market expectations of 2.4%. This marks the third consecutive month at this level. Food prices contributed 0.97 percentage points to the annual increase, led by coconuts (+0.28 pp), milk powder (+0.28 pp), vegetables (+0.44 pp), sea fish (+0.40 pp), and coconut oil (+0.13 pp), while rice, big onions, dhal mysoor, yoghurt, and sugar saw notable declines. Non-food categories added 1.18 points, with education (+0.27 pp), restaurant and hotel services (+0.26 pp), health (+0.19 pp), furnishings and maintenance (+0.12 pp), and clothing (+0.11 pp) as main contributors. Downward pressures came from petrol (-0.20 pp) and electricity (-0.19 pp). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.2% in December, rebounding from a 0.2% decline in November.
2025-12-31
Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Steady at 2.1%
The annual inflation rate in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, was unchanged at 2.1% in November 2025, remaining at its highest level since July 2024 but below market expectations of 2.5%. Food prices contributed 0.95 percentage points to the annual increase, while non-food categories added 1.14 points. Within food, the biggest upward effects came from coconuts (+0.63 pp), milk powder (+0.26 pp), limes (+0.34 pp), sea fish (+0.16 pp), and coconut oil (+0.15 pp), while notable declines were recorded in rice, eggs, yoghurt, big onions, and sugar. Among non-food items, key contributors included education (+0.27 pp), restaurant and hotel services (+0.25 pp), housing rent (+0.22 pp), private medical fees (+0.09 pp), and clothing (+0.11 pp). Downward pressures were seen in electricity (-0.20 pp), petrol (-0.21 pp), and areca nuts (-0.06 pp). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2%, reversing a 0.1% increase in the previous period.
2025-12-02