• Cites outdated poverty data, errors, flaws

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (30) said the report by the Government, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), detailing the country's socio-economic data, is full of errors, flaws, and shortcomings. He pointed out that it is a misleading document intended to deceive the citizens. He emphasised that he is presenting these criticisms based on solid facts and data, and that he is ready for an open debate on this matter with any party at any time.

He made these remarks during a special statement delivered this week. “The Government is attempting to paint a falsely beautiful picture of the country's situation. They have selectively included certain information while intentionally omitting other vital facts. The CBSL and the DCS have no right to present outdated data to formulate a conclusion, thereby marginalising an entire segment of the population. The CBSL and the DCS have treated the public like fools. For the section detailing socio-economic conditions from pages 19 to 34, the data used are exclusively from the outdated 2016–2019 period. When discussing socio-economic conditions, the data used for household income and expenditure surveys, Provincial-level conditions, housing facilities, energy consumption, cooking, and population distribution are entirely from 2016 to 2019. Specifically, the data on poverty mentioned on page 33, and even the data on the per capita daily food consumption capacity on page 34, belong to this old 2016–2019 timeframe. Formulating a report for this year (2026) using such outdated data is a deliberate attempt to mislead the country and its people. Why have the CBSL and the DCS opted to use outdated data only when measuring poverty, destitution, hardships, and the collapse of livelihoods due to insufficient income. Only the data related to poverty have been left un-updated. Why are the authorities using 2016 and 2019 data for poverty to mislead the country? Both the main report and its summary prove that the Government uses obsolete data regarding poverty, inequality, income distribution, and living standards. This is a historic deception regarding the country's poverty. The Government is deliberately presenting old data on poverty. They are engaged in a project to deceive the country by either hiding new data or intentionally ignoring it. Whose interests are being served by this data manipulation? This Government has proven itself incapable of accurately calculating the country's poverty levels. The Government claims that a person can survive for 30 days on Rs. 17,315, which is an absolute lie and a deception. This Government lacks updated data or definitions for poverty. Since the country went bankrupt, a proper household income and expenditure survey has not been conducted, nor has the poverty line been accurately identified. Will the upcoming Budget, scheduled for 12 November, be based on these false and flawed data? The Government is comparing Sri Lanka's human development indices with those of Asian, Group of Seven, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries, but, these comparisons are not based on accurate poverty data. This Government lie has now been exposed. Don’t attempt a cover-up by labeling these as mere printing errors. A budget cannot be prepared without accurate poverty data. The President, the Government, the CBSL, and the DCS must answer for this discrepancy. According to the World Bank (WB), the poverty line for our country is United States Dollars 8.30 (Rs. 2,724) a day. The CBSL and the DCS can easily obtain this data from the WB. According to the 2026 WB report on Sri Lanka's updated development data, the country's current poverty rate is 65.4 per cent. Furthermore, the recent loss of welfare has been severe, with 33% of households facing acute food insecurity. According to the WB's Deputy Secretary-General, this poverty rate is projected to decrease only marginally to 63.4% by 2028. The Government should stop continually deceiving the country and its people. Instead of hiding poverty statistics and deceiving 22 million citizens with an incomplete, incompetent, and inefficient report full of false poverty lines, a revised report based on true and accurate data should be presented before the upcoming Budget”.

Meanwhile, Premadasa has accused the Government of attempting to undermine the country’s democratic system, alleging that it lacks an understanding of democratic processes and principles. He made the remarks while meeting members of the Samagi Lawyers’ Association. He said that the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the three branches of Government are essential to safeguarding democratic freedoms. However, he alleged that the Government is taking steps to weaken the distribution of power among these institutions. Referring to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, Premadasa claimed that the Government had not followed a sufficiently broad process of consultation with political parties and other stakeholders. He also referred to countries such as the United Kingdom, saying that decisions concerning matters such as the retirement age of judges had been preceded by extended discussions with political parties and various stakeholders. Premadasa called for people across ethnic, religious, caste and political lines to unite to safeguard democracy. He also proposed establishing “democratic forums” at the village, divisional, District, Provincial and national levels to strengthen accountability in the Executive. He further said that he is prepared to lead all Opposition groups in efforts to strengthen public sovereignty. Premadasa said that plans are underway through the Association to establish free legal advisory services, mobile legal services and legal clinics. He also said that fundamental and human rights should not be limited to political and civil rights, but should be expanded to encompass social, economic and religious rights.