Census and Statistics Dept assures credibility
By Gamini Warushamana
The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) has assured the
accuracy and credibility of its socio economic indicators and
categorically denied recent claims in parliament and the media that GDP
and inflation figures published by the department are cooked up data.

Director General, Department of Census and Statistics,
D.C.A. Gunawardena, Deputy Governor, Central Bank, Nandalal
Weerasinghe and an official of the department. Pic: Vipula
Amarasinghe |
The Director General of the department, D.C.A. Gunawardena with
Deputy Governor of Central Bank Nandalal Weerasinghe and the officials
of the department explained in detail how inflation and GDP figures are
calculated, at a media briefing.
Gunawardena said that all statistics are compiled in accordance with
the relevant recommendations of the UN, IMF and the World Bank and,
therefore, they are accepted by the stakeholders and other international
agencies. The compilation of these indicators are being done by a large
number of officials in a transparent manner.
The processes are updated from time to time according to requirements
and can be compared internationally. None of the stakeholders or users
of our data have challenged the credibility of the data until
allegations were raised in Parliament last month, he said.
"The base year of the CCPI changed to reflect the changing
consumption pattern with the development of the economy and it is the
international practice. Accordingly, the new index was introduced in
2008 with 2002 as the base year and updated in 2011 based on consumer
income and expenditure survey of 2006 and 2007.
Alcohol was removed from the CCPI commodity basket on a government
decision to discourage alcohol consumption. Prices are collected from 14
markets and the average price of an item is taken from the prices of 36
sales outlets including supermarkets," he said.
Recently JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament that his
party has credible evidence that the rate of economic growth in the
first quarter of 2013 which was included in the budget was increased to
5.5 percent from 5.4 percent over the telephone, and later it was
further inflated to 6 per cent, on an 'order' given by the Director
General of the DCS. This statement created ripples and created lot of
media reports and discussions on the credibility of economic indicators.
Gunawardena said that the allegation of inflated GDP growth rates, is
false and based on a partial statement given by National Account's
Division Director at an inquiry. Compilation of quarterly national
accounts is a complex process depending on primary data provided by over
300 institutions. Estimates are revised regularly with the update of
data and the department published provisional data that are subject to
adjustments. The quarterly GDP data is finalised and published after 15
months. The 2013 first quarter GDP estimates which was subject to
criticism was also revised following the normal procedure and this
upward revision of the GDP was done based on updated data on agriculture
and construction sector growth, he said. |