Sri Lanka consumer prices up record 14% as food and fuel crisis worsens

Government's imposition of broad import restrictions to avert a foreign exchange crisis triggers a shortage of essential goods

A tourist auto rickshaw in Colombo. Sri Lanka's tourism-dependent economy has been hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP

Sri Lanka consumer prices shot up a record 14 per cent in December, surpassing a previous high of 11.1 per cent from a month earlier, official figures showed on Saturday, as food and fuel shortages worsen.

Senior ministers warned parliament earlier in the week of a growing food crisis with rice harvests due in March expected to be drastically lower, after an agrochemical import ban last year saw farmers abandoning more than 30 per cent of agricultural land.

The island's tourism-dependent economy has been hammered by the pandemic, with the government imposing broad import restrictions to avert a foreign exchange crisis – triggering a shortage of essential goods.

The Census and Statistics Department said year-on-year inflation in December was the highest since the National Consumer Price Index was established in 2015.

It said food inflation also hit a record 21.5 per cent, up from 16.9 per cent in November and 7.5 per cent a year ago.

The use of substandard organic fertiliser and pesticides has sharply reduced vegetable and fruit crop yields.

After intense farmer protests, the government lifted its agrochemical import ban in October, but banks are still short of dollars to finance imports.

Supermarkets have been rationing milk powder, sugar, lentils and other essentials for months, with a top official warning last month of more restrictions to feed those most in need.

But Agriculture Ministry secretary Udith Jayasinghe was sacked hours after calling for a formal rationing scheme to ensure that mothers, the elderly and the sick could be fed in the months ahead.

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves have tanked since President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took office in 2019, going from $7.5bn to $3.1 billion at the end of December. The current figure is enough to finance less than two months of imports.

International rating agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka over fears of default on its $35bn foreign debt. The government has insisted it can meet the obligations.