New Year 'Kevili' Table Costs Rise 7% YoY 📈

The cost of traditional sweetmeats for the 2026 Sinhala and Tamil New Year has increased by 7% compared to 2025, according to data from PublicFinance.lk and Verité Research. • Cost Comparison: The current cost is now 2.5 times higher than in 2019, highlighting the long-term impact of the economic crisis on household consumption. • Price Drivers: Six out of eight traditional items saw price hikes. Nearly 80% of the total increase was driven by two essential commodities: Coconut Oil Rice Flour • Key Data Points: Analysis based on a household of 4-5 persons. Prices sourced from the Department of Census and Statistics (Colombo District). Items include milk rice, kokis, kevum, and aluwa. _Note: Figures based on retail prices for main ingredients only; excludes utilities and spices._