Inflation decreased to 5.8 percent in April from a 6.3 percent in March for the second consecutive month, figures released by the Central Bank's Department of Census and Statistics said.

However, the annual average inflation increased to 3.4 percent in April from 3.2 percent in March.

The reduction in inflation attributed to the drop in consumer prices of food commodities and non-alcoholic beverages. Particularly, the decrease in prices of rice, red onions, bid onions, dhal, sugar, some varieties of vegetables and fish, coconut and coconut oil contributed towards this decline in the sub index, the Central Bank said.

However, other sub categories such as clothing and footwear, furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance have shown an increase in the prices.