Weekly Economic Indicators - 29 May 2026

29 May 2026 Highlights of the Week Real Sector

Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100) based headline inflation remained marginally above the target, recording 5.5 per cent in May 2026. Food and Non-food inflation recorded 0.9 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, the CCPI based core inflation accelerated to 3.9 per cent in May 2026 from 3.8 per cent in April 2026.

In April 2026, Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for Construction Industry, as reflected by the Total Activity Index, contracted on a month-on-month basis.

Monetary Sector

The Central Bank increased the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 100 bps to 8.75 per cent, with effect from 26 May 2026.

Weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) for the week ending 29 May 2026 increased by 32 bps to 9.90 per cent compared to the previous week.

The Average Weighted Call Money Rate (AWCMR) increased to 9.10 per cent on 29 May 2026 compared to 7.92 per cent at the end of last week.

The reserve money increased compared to the previous week, mainly due to the increase in deposits held by the commercial banks with the Central Bank.

The total outstanding market liquidity was a surplus of Rs.92.15 bn by 29 May 2026, compared to a surplus of Rs.141.27 bn by the end of last week.

By 29 May 2026, the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) increased by 1.74 per cent to 22,310.80 points and the S&P SL 20 Index increased by 1.62 per cent to 6,159.15 points, compared to the index values of last week.

Fiscal Sector

During the week, Treasury Bill and Treasury Bond yields increased in both primary and secondary markets.

The rupee value of Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds held by foreign investors decreased by approximately 5.49 per cent in the reporting week compared to the previous week.

In the reporting week, the auction for Treasury Bills experienced an oversubscription rate of approximately 1.2 times and Treasury Bonds experienced an oversubscription rate of approximately 1.8 times.

The total volume of secondary market transactions in Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds decreased by approximately 18.0 per cent in the reporting week compared to the week before.

External Sector

Year to date depreciation of Sri Lanka rupee against the US dollar was 5.4 per cent as of 29 May 2026.

The gross official reserves were provisionally estimated at US dollars 6,766 mn as at end April 2026. This includes proceeds from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) swap arrangement.

The merchandise trade deficit widened to US dollars 3,693 mn during the four months ending April 2026, compared to

US dollars 2,257 mn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Export earnings increased by 5.1 per cent (year-on-year) to US dollars 4,535 mn, while Import expenditure increased by 25.2 per cent (year-on-year) to US dollars 8,228 mn during the four months ending April 2026, compared to the same period of 2025.

REALSECTOR 1.1 Price Indices

NCPI(2021=100) NCPI-Year-on-Year%

CCPI(2021=100)

Source:Departmentof Censusand Statistics

1.2 Prices 1.2.1 Pettah Market

1.2.2 Marandagahamula Market

n.a.-notavailable