Fact Check
Factcheck.lk interpreted the MP, in context, as comparing Sri Lanka with South Asia. However, when evaluating this claim, FactCheck.lk consulted the websites of the Central Banks and Statistics agencies of all Asian countries.
Exhibit 1 lists South Asian countries with the highest rates of inflation for the year 2021. The cumulative inflation through the course of the year 2021 is the year-on-year, point-to-point percentage increase, in the National Consumer Price Index of the respective countries, at the end of December. This is 14% for Sri Lanka, which is the highest rate of inflation among South Asian countries, and also the highest among all other Asian countries, excluding the Middle East.
Therefore, we classify the MP’s statement as TRUE.
NB: Sri Lanka’s Department of Statistics also publishes the Colombo Consumer Price Index, which recorded the cumulative inflation for 2021 as 12.1%.
*FactCheck.lk’s verdict is based on the most recent information that is publicly accessible. As with every fact check, if new information becomes available, FactCheck.lk will revisit the assessment.
Sources
Sri Lanka , Inflation and Prices, Department of Census and Statistics, available at: http://www.statistics.gov.lk/InflationAndPrices/StaticalInformation/MonthlyNCPI/MovementsOf-NCPI
Pakistan , Monthly Review on Price Indices, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, available at: https://www.pbs.gov.pk/sites/default/files//price_statistics/monthly_price_indices/nb/2022/cpi_review_december_2021.pdf
Nepal , Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank, available at: https://www.nrb.org.np/contents/uploads/2022/02/Current-Macroeconomic-and-Financial-Situation-English-Based-on-Six-Months-data-of-2021.22.pdf
Bhutan , Consumer Price Index (CPI): December 2021, National Statistics Bureau, available at: https://www.nsb.gov.bt/consumer-price-index-october-2020/
Bangladesh , Bangladesh Bank, available at: https://www.bb.org.bd/en/index.php/econdata/inflation
India , WEEKLY STATISTICAL SUPPLEMENT, Reserve Bank of India, available at: https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/WSSView.aspx?Id=25091
Afghanistan , Da Afghanistan Bank, available at: https://dab.gov.af/inflation-rate
Maldives , Consumer Price Index Annual 2021, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, available at: http://statisticsmaldives.gov.mv/cpi-annual-2021/
Mongolia , Consumer Price Indices, Central Bank of Mongolia, available at: https://www.mongolbank.mn/eng/dblistcpi_mng.aspx
Kyrgyzstan , Prices and Tariffs, National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, available at: http://stat.kg/en/statistics/ceny-i-tarify/
Uzbekistan , Year-on-year, month-on-month and cumulative inflation, Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, available at: https://cbu.uz/en/monetary-policy/annual-inflation/indicators/
Kazakhstan , Statistics of Prices, Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bureau of National statistics, available at: https://stat.gov.kz/official/industry/26/statistic/6
Tajikistan , Monthly Inflation Review, Central Bank of Tajikistan, available at: https://www.nbt.tj/en/macroeconomic/tavarrumi-solona-iyun-2017.php