COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 24 August 2026 – Sri Lankan consumers experienced a notable reprieve in the prices of several essential food items, particularly vegetables and fish, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) Daily Price Report for August 6th, 2026. The report, which provides a snapshot of market price developments across the island, indicates that favourable supply conditions led to a significant downward trend in many key commodities, though local potato prices saw an uptick.
Relief in Vegetable Markets
The report highlighted considerable price reductions in major vegetable markets. The price of Beans saw a substantial decline in both Pettah and Dambulla markets. In Pettah, prices dropped from Rs. 450.00 to Rs. 350.00 per kilogram, while Dambulla recorded a fall from Rs. 395.00 to Rs. 355.00 per kilogram. This positive trend was attributed to a favourable supply arriving from the Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Balangoda, and Welimada areas.
Similarly, Cabbage prices also decreased in Pettah (from Rs. 230.00 to Rs. 200.00 per kilogram) and Dambulla (from Rs. 135.00 to Rs. 120.00 per kilogram), bolstered by good harvests from Nuwara Eliya and Bandarawela. Brinjal in the Dambulla market also became more affordable, declining from Rs. 280.00 to Rs. 230.00 per kilogram due to increased supply from Puttalam and Sigiriya. Moreover, Green Chilli prices in Dambulla saw a notable drop from Rs. 780.00 to Rs. 680.00 per kilogram, thanks to a healthy supply from Trincomalee, Kalpitiya, and Anuradhapura.
Favourable Conditions in Fish Markets
The island’s fish markets also presented good news for consumers, with several varieties experiencing price declines. The wholesale price of Kelawalla in the Negombo fish market decreased from Rs. 1,600.00 to Rs. 1,500.00 per kilogram, driven by a favourable supply from the Negombo coastal area. This represents a decline of more than 5% compared to the previous day.
Even more significant reductions were observed for Hurulla. Its wholesale price declined sharply in both Peliyagoda and Negombo fish markets. In Peliyagoda, prices fell from Rs. 1,300.00 to Rs. 1,100.00 per kilogram, while Negombo saw an even steeper drop from Rs. 1,200.00 to Rs. 900.00 per kilogram. These declines were a direct result of favourable supply from the Chilaw/Kalpitiya and Negombo coastal areas, respectively.
Mixed Trends for Other Commodities
While many perishable goods saw prices fall, the report noted an increase in the price of Local Potato. In the Dambulla market, local potato prices rose from Rs. 275.00 to Rs. 293.00 per kilogram. This upward movement was attributed to a limited supply originating from Nuwara Eliya and Welimada areas.
Other essential commodities like carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, snake gourd, lime, various types of onions, imported potato, dried chilli, coconut, coconut oil, red dhal, white sugar, and eggs largely maintained stable prices across the monitored markets, with minor fluctuations not exceeding the 5% threshold.
The CBSL’s daily price report serves as a crucial indicator for consumers and policymakers, reflecting the dynamic nature of Sri Lanka’s food supply chains and market responses to agricultural yields and logistics.
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