Cabraal says figures not ‘massaged’

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal today dismissed allegations that statistics provided by state institutions mainly the Central Bank and the Census and Statistics Department were distorted or ‘massaged’ to suit Government rhetoric on development.

He said the figures were accepted by International Organisations.

Responding to a journalist on the ‘massaging of data’ prepared by the Census and Statistics Department, Mr. Cabraal said those allegations were centered on information contained in a fundamental rights petition filed in the Supreme Court by an official who was sacked from the Department.

“Unfortunately, publicity has been given to only a section of the facts in the FR petition and that has created a misconception,” he added. (Sandun A. Jayasekera) (pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana)