COLOMBO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), on a year-to-year basis, increased to -2.6 percent in March, compared to -4.2 percent in February, data released on Friday by the Department of Census and Statistics showed.

Year-on-year food inflation was 0.6 percent in March 2025, while year-on-year non-food inflation was -4.1 percent, the data showed.

In September 2022, inflation surged to 69.8 percent as the South Asian nation faced an economic crisis. However, inflation has been rapidly declining since.

According to a press statement by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka earlier this week, inflation remains negative at present, mainly due to repeated reductions in electricity tariffs and fuel prices.

It said deflationary conditions are expected to gradually ease from this month, with inflation projected to turn positive by mid-2025. ■