Two years in power, three claims checked: President AKD’s rally speech

On September 6, 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed a public rally held to mark two years since the National People’s Power (NPP) came to power. FactCheck.lk assessed three factual claims made by the president during his address.

Statement 1: “As a result, in 2025 we were able to record the highest government revenue as a percentage of GDP, 16.7%, in 30 years”

Fact-check: The figure cited by the president refers to the CBSL line item “Revenue and Grants”, which stood at 16.7% of GDP in 2025. However, this was not the highest level recorded in the previous 30 years.

Taking the 30-year period as 1996–2025, the CBSL’s Annual Economic Review 2025: Special Statistical Appendix shows that revenue and grants exceeded 16.7% of GDP nine times. In all but one of these years, the ratio was 17% or higher, reaching a high of 20.1% in 1996.

Therefore, while Revenue and Grants rose to 16.7% of GDP in 2025, this was not the highest level in 30 years (three decades). The claim would have been accurate if stated as the highest in nearly two decades (not three), as 2025 recorded the highest ratio since 2006.

Verdict: FALSE

Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Annual Economic Review 2025: Special Statistical Appendix (https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/en/publications/economic-and-financial-reports/annual-economic-review/annual-economic-review-2025/special-statistical-appendix)

Statement 2: “In 2025, we recorded the lowest budget deficit recorded in Sri Lanka since 1957”

Fact-check: The CBSL Annual Economic Review 2025: Special Statistical Appendix records Sri Lanka’s overall budget deficit at 2.3% of GDP in 2025. Historical CBSL data show that no year from 1957 to 2024 recorded a smaller deficit. The next lowest was 3.3% of GDP in 1974.

VERDICT: TRUE

Statement 3: “Next, the Middle East war started…The people couldn’t bear the increase in fuel prices that it caused. We allocated Rs. 100 billion for fuel and electricity subsidies. 60 billion was given for fuel subsidies. That means fuel was sold for Rs. 100 less than the actual amount. For every litre of fuel sold, the government gave Rs. 100 to CPC as well as to the IOC”

Fact-check: The president’s claim refers to the fuel subsidy introduced following the increase in global oil prices after the outbreak of the Middle East war. the Rs. 100 per litre subsidy applied to Auto Diesel, while 92 Octane petrol carried the smaller subsidy of Rs. 20 per litre.

FactCheck.lk estimated what the subsidy could have cost for March, April and May just for 92 Octane and Auto Diesel, by converting the reported sales volumes from tonnes to litres. On this basis, the subsidy cost for 92 Octane amounted to LKR 9.7 billion and on Auto Diesel amounted to LKR 55.5 billion, giving a combined total of approximately LKR 65.1 billion. FactCheck.lk cannot confirm from publicly available information whether the entire estimated amount was disbursed. However, the estimated subsidy commitment of LK 65.1 billion is close to the Rs. 60 billion cited by the president.

Lanka IOC’s annual and quarterly financial reports also refer to the subsidy and show profits, despite selling at the lower cost, indicating that much of the subsidy was paid. This further supports the president’s statement that the government compensated Lanka IOC as well.

Therefore, taking the three-month period from March to May, the president’s claim that the government provided around Rs. 60 billion as a fuel price subsidy is broadly accurate.

Verdict: TRUE

Sources: Office of the Cabinet of Ministers, Cabinet Decision of 30 March 2026, “Controlling the price of fuel with the provision of relief by the Government” (https://www.cabinetoffice.gov.lk/cab/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=49&lang=en&dID=13858);

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Monthly Economic Indicators (https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/en/statistics/economic-indicators/monthly-indicators);

Lanka IOC PLC Annual Report 2025/26, Colombo Stock Exchange (https://www.cse.lk/company-profile?symbol=LIOC.N0000);

Lanka IOC PLC Interim Financial Statements for the period ended 30 June 2026, Colombo Stock Exchange (https://cdn.cse.lk/cmt/upload_report_file/729_1784289979695.pdf).

*FactCheck.lk’s verdict is based on the most recent information that is publicly accessible. As with every fact check, FactCheck.lk will revisit the assessment if new information becomes available.

Posted on: 25 September 2026

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