Colombo, Sri Lanka – 02 October 2026 – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today released its Daily Price Report for October 2, 2026, revealing a dynamic landscape of price fluctuations across key agricultural, fisheries, and other essential commodities. The report, which provides a summary of price developments, highlights varying impacts of supply and demand factors on market prices in major trading hubs like Pettah, Dambulla, Peliyagoda, and Negombo.
Vegetable Market Experiences Mixed Fortunes
Consumers witnessed a notable decline in the price of Beans across both Pettah and Dambulla markets. In Pettah, the price decreased from Rs. 650.00 to Rs. 600.00 per kg, while in Dambulla, it fell from Rs. 580.00 to Rs. 480.00 per kg. This significant drop, exceeding 5% in both markets, is attributed to a favourable supply stemming from Balangoda and Nuwara Eliya areas.
Conversely, Carrot prices showed an upward trend. The price in Pettah increased by 20% from Rs. 250.00 to Rs. 300.00 per kg, and in Dambulla, it rose from Rs. 205.00 to Rs. 220.00 per kg. This increase, particularly sharp in Pettah, is linked to a limited supply originating from the Nuwara Eliya region.
Cabbage also saw an increase, with prices in the Dambulla market climbing by over 13% from Rs. 225.00 to Rs. 255.00 per kg. The CBSL report attributes this to limited supplies from Bandarawela and Nuwara Eliya areas. Meanwhile, Brinjal prices experienced a decline of over 10% in Dambulla, dropping from Rs. 285.00 to Rs. 255.00 per kg, thanks to favourable supply from Elahera and Kekirawa areas.
Fish Prices Fluctuate Due to Coastal Supply Shifts
The fish markets also presented a mixed bag of price movements. The wholesale price of Thalapath increased substantially, surging by 15% in Peliyagoda from Rs. 2,000.00 to Rs. 2,300.00 per kg, and by 8.8% in Negombo from Rs. 1,700.00 to Rs. 1,850.00 per kg. This rise is primarily due to a limited supply from the Eastern and Western coastal areas.
In contrast, the wholesale price of Linna witnessed a considerable decline in both major fish markets. In Peliyagoda, prices fell by over 15% from Rs. 830.00 to Rs. 700.00 per kg, and in Negombo, they dropped by nearly 12% from Rs. 850.00 to Rs. 750.00 per kg. This favourable price movement for consumers is attributed to an abundant supply from the Southern coastal area.
Other Commodities: Local Potato Sees Price Hike
Among other essential commodities, the price of Local Potato registered a notable increase of almost 15% in the Dambulla market, moving from Rs. 205.00 to Rs. 235.00 per kg. The report indicates that this surge is due to the limited availability of imported Pakistani varieties, shifting demand towards local produce.
Prices for other staples like Red Onion (Local), Big Onion (Local and Imported), Dried Chilli (Imported), Coconut, Coconut oil, Red Dhal, Sugar (White), and Eggs largely remained stable or saw minor adjustments across various markets.
The daily price report serves as a crucial indicator for market participants and policymakers, reflecting the immediate impact of supply chain dynamics, weather patterns, and regional cultivation on the cost of living in Sri Lanka.
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