The cost of preparing a traditional kevili table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has risen by 7 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. It remains more than twice as expensive as in 2019.

A kevili table, a customary feature during New Year celebrations in Sri Lanka, includes an assortment of traditional sweetmeats symbolising prosperity and happiness.

Prices increased for five out of the eight key items in 2025. Notably, the cost of milk rice rose by 57 percent and kokis by 35 percent – both of which rely heavily on coconut and coconut oil.

The overall increase in kevili table prices was primarily driven by a surge in coconut prices. The price of coconuts rose by 80 percent year-on-year, while coconut oil increased by 40 percent. In contrast, the prices of most other ingredients either declined or remained stable.

Furthermore, compared to 2019, the cost of a kevili table has more than doubled—rising by 2.4 times in 2025, up from 2.2 times in 2024 (See Exhibit 1 ) .

Exhibit 1: Change in Kevili item prices over time (prices in LKR)

Note:

1. Although kevili tables vary across households, the typical assortment includes milk rice, kokis, banana, aluwa, kevum, dodol, mun kevum, and butter cake.
2. The analysis is based on recipes from the popular YouTube channel Appe Amma, scaled for a household of four to five persons.
3. Only the main ingredients were included in the costing; utility costs (e.g. electricity or gas) and spices were excluded.
4. Price data were sourced from the Department of Census and Statistics, specifically from the Open Market Weekly Average Retail prices in the Colombo District for the years 2019 (April, Week 1), 2024 (March, Week 3), and 2025 (March, Week 3).

Sources

Price data were sourced from the Department of Census and Statistics, specifically from the Open Market Weekly Average Retail prices in the Colombo District for the years 2019 (April, Week 1), 2024 (March, Week 3), and 2025 (March, Week 3).

Research by: Shalomi Liyanage and Anushan Kapilan
Visualisation by: Muaadh Himaz