Annual inflation in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, slowed to 1.6% in February 2026, its lowest level in five months, after rising to 2.3% in January which was the highest since July 2024. Food prices increased 0.2%, the least in a year, compared to a 3.3% rise in January while non-food cost increased at a faster 2.3% compared to 1.8% in January. Largest upward contributions came from cost of housing and utilities, restaurants and hotels, education, health and clothing and footwear. Compared to the previous month, the CPI declined 0.9%, the most since August 2024, following a 0.6% increase in January. source: Department of Census and Statistics - Sri Lanka

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka decreased to 1.60 percent in February from 2.30 percent in January of 2026. Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka averaged 9.80 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 March of 2026.

Inflation Rate in Sri Lanka decreased to 1.60 percent in February from 2.30 percent in January of 2026. 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
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 1.6% 2.3% 2.7% 2.4%
2026-03-27 09:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Mar 1.6% 2.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Price Index CPI 195.30 197.00 points Feb 2026
Core Consumer Prices 197.90 197.00 points Jan 2026
Core Inflation Rate 2.30 2.70 percent Jan 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 136.60 136.60 points Feb 2026
CPI Transportation 224.40 224.80 points Feb 2026
Export Prices 198.28 243.51 points Dec 2025
Food Inflation 0.20 3.30 percent Feb 2026
GDP Implicit Price Deflator 253.00 255.30 points Sep 2025
Import Prices 246.38 269.83 points Dec 2025
Inflation Rate YoY 1.60 2.30 percent Feb 2026
Inflation Rate MoM -0.90 0.60 percent Feb 2026
Producer Prices 242.10 241.40 points Jan 2026
PPI YoY 3.00 2.50 percent Jan 2026


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
1.60 2.30 67.40 -4.20 1986 - 2026 percent Monthly
2021=100

News Stream
Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Slows in February
Annual inflation in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, slowed to 1.6% in February 2026, its lowest level in five months, after rising to 2.3% in January which was the highest since July 2024. Food prices increased 0.2%, the least in a year, compared to a 3.3% rise in January while non-food cost increased at a faster 2.3% compared to 1.8% in January. Largest upward contributions came from cost of housing and utilities, restaurants and hotels, education, health and clothing and footwear. Compared to the previous month, the CPI declined 0.9%, the most since August 2024, following a 0.6% increase in January.
2026-02-27
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