July 05, Colombo: Sri Lanka today said that consumer prices increased by 28 percent this year in Sri Lanka due to global crisis including the financial meltdown in major industrial countries.

Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that a positive change in the country's economy next year is based on the developments such as progress in the agriculture industry in the North and East and the transportation of its products to the south.

He also predicts that the time when Sri Lanka will own a glowing economy in the Asian region is close at hand. The government has taken steps to incorporate all segments of society within this development process, he said.