The Department of Census and Statistics announced that the overall inflation rate for Colombo, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year basis, rose to 2.2% in March 2026. This marks an increase from the 1.6% recorded in February 2026. The report, released on March 31, indicated that both major categories experienced upward trends:
- Food inflation climbed to 0.7% in March, up from 0.2% in February.
- Non-food inflation increased to 2.9% in March, compared to 2.3% in February.
Furthermore, the CCPI value itself saw a slight rise from 195.3 in February to 195.8 in March, reflecting a 95.8% increase in the general price level relative to the 2021 base period. The primary driver for the March inflation was noted to be the price increases within the non-food category.