Sri Lanka Inflation Hits 5.4%

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s inflation rate has risen to 5.4 percent in May 2026 compared to 4.7% in April 2026, according to the latest National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) data released by the Department of Census and Statistics, underscoring continued pressure on the cost of living across the country.

The NCPI, which measures overall price movements based on a 2021 benchmark, increased to 218.8 in May, up from 216.3 recorded in April.

A breakdown of the inflation data reveals a clear divergence between food and non-food categories. Food inflation remained relatively low at 1.5 percent year-on-year, while non-food inflation accelerated significantly to 8.6 percent, emerging as the primary driver of overall inflation in May.