The cost of preparing a traditional “kevili” table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has increased by 7% in 2025 compared to 2024 and is now more than double the cost in 2019.
This was revealed in the annual ‘New Year Kevili Table’ analysis conducted by PublicFinance.lk, an economic insights platform maintained by Verité Research.
According to the analysis, the 7% increase in 2025 was mainly driven by a sharp rise in coconut and coconut oil prices, which surged by 80% and 40% respectively. Prices of most other ingredients either remained stable or declined.
In 2024, the cost of kevili ingredients was already 2.2 times higher than in 2019. By 2025, it has risen to 2.4 times the 2019 level.
A kevili table typically includes traditional Sri Lankan sweet treats such as milk rice, kokis, banana, aluwa, kevum, dodol, mun kevum, and butter cake—symbolising prosperity and happiness during the New Year.
The analysis was based on quantities used in recipes from the popular YouTube channel “Appe Amma,” designed for a household of 4–5 people. Only the main ingredients were considered, excluding utility and spice costs. Price data was sourced from the Department of Census and Statistics, including Open Market Weekly Average Retail prices in the Colombo District for April 2019 (Week 1), April 2023 (Week 1), March 2024 (Week 3), and March 2025 (Week 3).
