Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has criticized the Government for formulating policies based on inaccurate statistical data, arguing that official poverty thresholds do not reflect the true cost of living for Sri Lankans.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has launched a critique of the Government's policymaking approach, asserting that decisions are being made using flawed data from official sources. Speaking at a farmers' gathering in Tissamaharama, Hambantota, Premadasa questioned the validity of poverty metrics used by the Department of Census and Statistics.

According to the Opposition Leader, the Department considers Rs. 17,315 per month sufficient for an individual to meet basic survival needs. Premadasa challenged this figure, questioning whether anyone could realistically sustain themselves on this amount for an extended period. He argued that such calculations fail to capture actual living expenses and remain disconnected from ground realities.

Premadasa further claimed that between 30% and 40% of Sri Lanka's population currently lives below the poverty line, yet the Government lacks a comprehensive strategy to address this widespread hardship. He specifically pointed to recent measures to reduce the 'Aswesuma' welfare programme, suggesting these cuts worsen conditions for vulnerable communities. According to the Opposition Leader, the Government has fundamentally misunderstood the challenges faced by ordinary citizens, leading to policies that do not adequately respond to genuine need.