Dhaka, Oct. 1 -- Sri Lanka's inflation rose to its highest level in 14 months in September due to higher costs for food, health and education, the country's statistics office said Tuesday.

Year-on-year inflation was 1.5 percent, up from 1.2 percent in August and compared with a deflation of 0.5 percent a year earlier, official data showed.

September's inflation was the highest since July last year, when prices rose by 2.4 percent. Food prices alone jumped 2.9 percent in September, while non-food items rose at a modest 0.7 percent.

Sri Lanka's central bank has said it expects prices to rise further by the end of the year and could reach a targeted five percent.

Inflation in Sri Lanka hit a record 69.8 percent three years ago at the hei...