Drastic drop in inflation - Minister Siyambalapitiya

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Minister of Finance and State Revenue, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday stated at Parliament that during the past three months inflation has drastically declined. The Minister also stated that the inflation rate has dropped from 28 per cent to 20 per cent during September, October and November.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. The Minister also stressed that the economy of Sri Lanka is not facing a crisis but it is stable.

When Karunanayake inquired as to why liquor has been removed from the list that is used to calculate inflation, the Minister answered that only the essential goods used by public should be counted when calculating inflation.

Liquor is not an essential commodity and it has been removed from the list. It is not contradictory to the Mahinda Chinthana, he said.