Sajith accuses govt. of using data selectively in crucial report

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has criticized the government for utilizing selective data within the Socio-Economic Data report, which was released concurrently with the Census and Statistics, and the Central Bank's data. According to Premadasa, the government is intentionally excluding crucial facts in favor of presenting a deceptive image of the nation's situation.

He emphasized the need for chronological consistency and integrity when presenting data. The Central Bank and the Department of Census and Statistics are not authorized to disseminate outdated data to draw conclusions, thereby disregarding a significant portion of the population. Premadasa pointed out that while recent data from 2023 to 2025 were employed for the first 18 pages of the report, 2024 data were utilized for primary economic indicators, macroeconomic indicators, demographic data, and life expectancy.

Indicators such as external trade finance, consumer price indices, real GDP, imports, exports, prosperity indices, and human development indices were also assessed against Asian and SAARC countries using the latest available data. However, the data used to discuss socio-economic conditions from page 19 to 34 exclusively stems from the outdated 2016-2019 period.

This includes household income and expenditure surveys, provincial-level conditions, housing facilities, energy consumption, cooking habits, and population distribution. Specifically, the data on poverty and per capita daily food consumption capacity, mentioned on page 33 and 34, respectively, originate from this antiquated timeframe.

Premadasa contends that utilizing such outdated data to formulate a report for the year 2026 is a calculated attempt to mislead the country and its citizens. He questioned why fresh 2025 data are utilized for sections on prosperity, demographics, the labor force, and employment after page 35, while 2016 and 2019 data are employed to mislead the public regarding poverty.

The Opposition Leader emphasized that while the government uses updated data for macroeconomic aspects, it utilizes obsolete data concerning poverty, inequality, income distribution, and living standards. He challenged the authorities for presenting recent data for foreign debt, financial activities, financial sector trends, and money supply, yet continuing to use outdated data for poverty-related issues.

Premadasa also addressed a reported assertion by the government regarding a person's ability to survive on Rs. 17,315 for 30 days, calling it a blatant lie and deception. He emphasized the government's lack of updated data or accurate definitions for poverty, given that the nation has gone bankrupt. Furthermore, he questioned whether the upcoming budget, scheduled for November 12, 2026, will be based on these false and flawed data.