Friday, 3 January 2014 04:33
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By Uditha Jayasinghe
Dismissing allegations of artificially-inflated economic data, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday warned detractors not to go to the extent of undermining the entire data gathering process to meet their own ends.
“I want to very clearly say that we have a sound system of collecting and disseminating data. These systems meet international standards. When the numbers that we have do not suit one or two people, they make charges like this. We cannot help that,” he told reporters during a press conference held after the launch of the annual Road Map.
Cabraal also warned that detractors should not go to the extent of charging distorted data because it affects not only the Central Bank but all institutions connected with the public system.
“We don’t compile electricity consumption numbers or employment data. That is up to the relevant public institution. So when accusations are made on doctored data, it is not just against us but against the entire public service,” he added.
When pressed by reporters on allegations made by Opposition politicians detailing an employee of the Census and Statics Department being told to “massage” statistics by its Director General, Cabraal noted that he personally looked into the case and found no reason to doubt data from the department.
“This person was fired from his job and afterwards he filed a Fundamental Rights case and this incident was documented as part of it. It is clear that this is an isolated incident and a response has already been filed by the Census and Statistics Department.”
JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament of the alleged direction to artificially inflate data during the Budget debate.
