False

We heard on the election stages the claim that […] [they] would reduce the fuel price, remove/reduce taxes. […] Actually, around two weeks ago octane 92 petrol was brought into the country at Rs.195. Similarly, diesel, I mean regular diesel, was brought in at nearly Rs. 200. Even if we calculate according to the new prices, a huge tax–around Rs. 117 for a litre of petrol and around Rs. 83 for a litre of diesel – is being charged.

Savings are low in Sri Lanka. In general, Sri Lanka's savings are at most 15% or 20%. In India it is 30% to 35%. In China, it is more than 50%. We do not have that.

No other country in the world has taken 2.5 years like this [Sri Lanka] for debt restructuring. Every country completed that process in 1 or 1.5 years

The cost of many goods and services increased to levels that couldn’t be borne [by the people]. The cost of many goods and services increased by 300% [sic] when compared to 2020. That means, the cost of goods and services increased by a ratio of 1 to 3. The egg that children ate for Rs. 12, increased by a ratio of 1 to 5, up to Rs. 60, 65.

Sri Lanka’s per capita GDP was USD 140 in 1959. Following the economic crisis, in 2020, it stood at USD 3,474. This also shows that there has been a massive change in the income level of the country as well as the income level of the people. […] Sri Lanka has been able to achieve a level of economic growth and development that surpasses all the countries in South Asia.

Only 40,000 of these 400,000 students [that enter Grade 1] are given the opportunity to go to university. 90% do not get into university and are left to drift aimlessly.

When Ranil Wickremesinghe came to power in 2015, our debt was LKR 8.5 trillion […] In 2020, the country’s debt […] stood at LKR 15 trillion […] Approximately, Ranil’s five years put the country more in debt by LKR 6.5 trillion.

Although the number of academic staff is dwindling [in recent months], the annual intake of students at universities has doubled since 2017

[…] all the local government elections held after 1991 have been postponed without being held within the stipulated time. […]

[…] The expected tax income for 2023 is Rs 3,130 billion [a 70% increase from 2022]. It is not something practical. Since the tax net is not functioning properly, the tax burden will fall on the same people who paid taxes in 2022. What has actually happened is that the income the taxpayers have to spend for their needs has reduced by 70%.

"According to the 1981 census, the Sinhala population in the city of Colombo was 51%. According to the 2012 census, the Sinhala population in the city of Colombo was 28%. The Sinhala population has reduced by half. That gap has been filled by the Tamil and Muslim people who arrived from the north and east.”

The total export income has reduced by almost 10% this year when compared to last year. This is a huge reduction.  Therefore, it is clear that the economic strategy the government is following under the guidance of the IMF is not providing a remedy to bring this patient named “the economy” - who is in the ICU - out into at least a normal ward. 

Only 120,965 persons or 2.6 percent of the labour force, who are earning over Rs.100,000 per month, are subjected to the PAYE tax.

…It is because this step was taken [ban imports on certain items] that essential items such as fuel, medicine and fertiliser can be imported without any shortages…

In 2022, the government’s revenue and expenditure difference were as high as 256% or Rs. 3,058 billion. [In 2023] The government expect the revenue to be Rs. 3.45 trillion, while the expenditure will go up to Rs. 10 trillion, incurring a deficit of Rs. 6.66 trillion for the year. Thus, financial discipline is indispensable to run the economy.

…The [2023] budget presented this time is seeking the highest revenue in the entire history of Sri Lanka. Compared to last year, this year’s revenue shows an increase of 70%. In Sri Lanka, at no point has the revenue increased from year to year by more than 10%, 15% or 20%.... In the history of Sri Lanka have we ever generated a revenue figure that is in the range of LKR 3,000 billion? Every year, the revenue generated has been less than LKR 2,000 billion….

Although the former government’s budget projected a revenue of LKR 2.3 trillion, LKR 1.6 trillion is the realistic projection of this year’s revenue. The estimated government expenditure for this year is LKR 3.3 trillion. However, due to the increase in interest rates and additional expenditure of the former government, the total government expenditure is LKR 4 trillion. The budget deficit for the year is LKR 2.4 trillion.

Irrespective of who is there [in positions of power], an unconstitutional event has already taken place in the country… The other thing is that none of the 225 MPs, the current president or prime minister can take the required decisions about the country. The public has rendered their power void… the public has come to Colombo and demonstrated the people’s sovereignty outside of the constitution and have declared that “it is we have who have the power now, not you”.

Some claim that Sri Lanka is a bankrupt country. Bankruptcy is not merely determined by the amount of assets the country has and the amount of responsibilities we have. Our assets are USD 400 billion, and our commitments are USD 47 billion. Therefore, in that sense we are not bankrupt. But what they are referring to is the balance of payment, the dollars required for day-to-day expenses.

“The executive presidential system can only be abolished by enacting a new constitution. This is because the president’s powers extend throughout the constitution.”

During 2015-2019, Sri Lanka’s economic growth had collapsed gradually from 7% to 2%. Although foreign debt increased by USD 15 billion, foreign reserves had reduced by USD 1 billion.

Industrial sector is in a huge crisis at present, every government after 77’ is responsible for this.... The industrial sector which was at all times 54%, reduced to 27%.

No one will be allowed to distort & disrespect the national flag of our Motherland. Anyone found so shall be thoroughly investigated and charged accordingly under the provisions of our Penal Code.

Tourism is a 10-billion-dollar industry, and for the last two years we have not been able to enjoy the fruits of that.

In terms of administering both doses of the vaccine, as of yesterday [January 1], we rank 4th in the world; as the highest percentage from the eligible population, we rank 4th out of 194 countries in the world.

I have not taken a cent in foreign loans during my two years in office.

The debt stood at 2 trillion when Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the country. It stood at 7 trillion at the time he handed over the country. The debt only rose by 5 trillion in [those] 10 years. [But] The debt stood at 13 trillion when the country was handed over to us. Your [Yahapalanaya] government obtained 6 trillion in loans in 5 years.

This [LP gas] problem arose - especially this problem of the butane and propane composition - [because] the composition is not mentioned in the standards that have been formulated by the SLSI.

It is prohibited to publish and exchange statements that insult the president on social media or any other media. The police is vested with the authority to take legal action against those who do so.

At the time when Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the government, we had only 72% of foreign loans. However, soon after the Yahapalana government, when we came into power that percentage has been increased up to 96%. Therefore, we must say, it was during their 5-year tenure [Yahapalana government] have taken an enormous amount of loans.

There are 4 Rajapaksas who represent the cabinet. There is also a state minister as well. How much of funds have been allocated to that family—to the ministries they represent? The total expenditure is 5,200 billion or 5.2 trillion. However, when 5,200 million (sic) is being spent, 3,470 million (sic) is being spent within one group—within one family. That is 64% of total government expenditure.

The Government has spent more than Rs. 700 billion on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and providing relief to people and that it is exactly half of the overall income of this country last year which was Rs. 1,380 billion…Rs. 50 billion had been spent on low-income earning families receiving Samurdhi allowances, Rs. 90 billion on providing medicines free of charge, Rs. 40 billion on behalf of disabled war heroes, Rs. 250 billion for pensions, Rs. 35 billion for fertiliser subsidies as well as Rs. 70 billion on various types of relief for state institutions running at a loss.

More than 85% of government revenue goes to pay salaries and pensions to public servants.

In the South Asian Region, the country that has most successfully controlled the pandemic is Sri Lanka

Due to the fact that oil has continuously been purchased at high prices and sold at low prices, the accumulated loss for CEYPETCO, as at end 2020, is Rs. 331 billion

Sri Lanka had imported 574,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser in 2020… Sri Lanka has become the top chemical fertiliser user in South Asia. We use 284 kg of chemical fertiliser per hectare.

The Employees Provident Fund has become the strongest fund in Asia today.

If it is to reach the community transmission level, the positive rate would have drastically spiraled parallel to the number of PCR tests. At present, Sri Lanka is not experiencing such a situation.

“If positive cases are reported without the origin, then it can be identified as a community transmission.

In the first seven months of 2020, the government's tax revenue was reduced by 40.9 percent in comparison with that same period last year.

“…the budget deficit which my government brought down to 5.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014, has increased to over 9.6 percent of the GDP by 2019…

When I was the Prime Minister, the government revenue was LKR 150,000 million. The revenue last month was LKR 50,000 million. LKR 90,000 million is needed to pay the salaries and pensions of the public servants.

“Unemployment in our war-affected areas have exceeded 10% while the national average proportion of unemployment is less than 6%.”

As long as 19A is in force, the president has to waste his time in courts… That is why immunity is needed…

40% of the population is directly employed in agriculture.

The then IGP may not have been at fault for the Easter attack. However, if the president wants to remove him, he cannot do so under this constitution.

In August of 2016, without even allowing for a parliamentary debate on the matter, the Yahapalana government forcibly enacted the Office on Missing Persons Act.

For the first time since the open economy was introduced in 1977 by J.R. Jayawardena, the country’s export earnings exceeded import expenditure.

In 2016, I eliminated Malaria from Sri Lanka.

“…Even if [former President Sirisena] has committed a crime, he cannot be prosecuted as he enjoys immunity in terms of Article 35(1) of the Constitution…

We are in a worst situation compared to Italy at the end of the first 7 days (from 1st Local Case). Peak of the COVID-19 in Sri Lanka can be expected during New Year Season if we do not take more aggressive decisions as suggested by WHO.

The other dangerous consequence of co-sponsoring [UNHRC Resolution 30/1] is that this country’s ‘war heroes’ can be taken before an international court at any instance.

In this statement made on 30 January 2020, UPFA MP Kanchana Wijesekara claims that 96% of the losses caused to the government treasury, through bond transactions from 2002-2015

In Sri Lanka, 20 percent of children are having a mental or physical disability.

Through SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka, every person in the country has been made a debtor to the value of LKR 12,500.

[According to Article 7 of the constitution] Sri Lanka's national anthem is "Sri Lanka Maatha"… if anything other than the words of "Sri Lanka Maatha"

…last week, the [US] Millennium Challenge Agreement was signed in Parliament. Once signed, a special economic corridor will be built from Trincomalee to Colombo Port.

We are the people who released 90% of the land

Today 560,000 sit the Ordinary Level examination. 340,000 sit the Advanced Level examination.

While the richest 20 per cent enjoy 54 per cent of the national income, the poorest 20 per cent of the country enjoys only 4 percent of it

This government passed an act to obtain annual loans from foreigners without limitations.

…there has been no major change from the Presidency before the 19th Amendment to the current office of the president. Only three powers of the presidency were removed by the 19th Amendment.

According to the 2018 Central Bank Annual Report, when the total income was Rs. 1,920 billion...

Of [public sector employees], 70% are women.

Within the world healthcare system, the fact that the best health service is provided by Cuba and Sri Lanka has been accepted by the World Health Organization.

“To take part in a foreign armed uprising is not an offence here…. there is no law to prevent you from that.”

"In the past four years, the UNP-led government has borrowed the equivalent of 50% of the total national debt that was outstanding as at the end of December 2014

We have acted appropriately against the use of tobacco and imposed a 90% tax on tobacco in an attempt to reduce tobacco usage.

On 4 February 2019, Mawbima reported that Minister of Ports and Shipping and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayaka made the above statement. The 2017 Central Bank Annual Report shows that:

Around 16 or 17 percent of Sri Lankans are undernourished.

In the nine years I was in power, I increased the GDP per capita of this country by a multiple of three.

Today, Sri Lanka is a middle income country with a per capita income of US $ 13,000.