Sri Lanka, Aug. 31 -- Sri Lanka's deflationary streak ended this month, with prices climbing 1.2 percent, official data released on Friday showed. Prices rose in August after 11 consecutive months of deflation, according to the latest data from the Census and Statistics Department. Food inflation jumped to two percent in August, fuelling overall price rises, while transport and household maintenance costs declined, the Department said. The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) fell 4.2 percent in February, equalling the sharpest deflation recorded in July 1960. Prices have stabilised since the country secured a US$ 2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in early 2023 after the sovereign default in 2022.

The Governme...