True growth rate 2.7% not 3.2% - Wasantha Samarasinghe

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The accuracy of economic data with regard to the growth of the country is now being questioned by many activists. Convenor of the Voice Against Corruption Wasantha Samarasinghe appearing on the Newsline Program on Tuesday (June 27th) pointed out that the data regarding the growth of the economy has been adjusted. During the first quarter of 2018, the statistics revealed that the economic growth stood at 3.2%. Wasantha Samarasinghe alleges that the GDP values, that are taken into consideration when calculating economic growth, have been adjusted. During the first quarter of 2017, the GDP stood at 2,164.7 Billion Rupees. In 2018 that value has been adjusted as 2223.8 Billion Rupees. Samarasinghe reiterates that the Growth rate should thereby be 2.7%. However, Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Lakshman Kiriella stated that the statistics put forward by the government are provided by the Central Bank. UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanyake stated that he was not in the least shocked to hear such an allegation, because he had always been critical of the Central Bank. He further stated that this was something that happened in the past and also could be happening today. Karunanayake added that the government, Central bank, and Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe should all be responsible for the situation.