MP Bandara partly overstates the reduction in crime

FactCheck assessed the MP’s claim using the latest data from the Grave Crimes Abstract (GCA) from the Sri Lanka Police and the Prison Statistics of Sri Lanka report 2019. 

Exhibit 1 shows that the numbers provided by the MP are mostly correct, barring some small deviations. The numbers compared are misleading, however, because he was claiming an improvement during the 2015-2018 period; but using two of the three reference points from 2012, instead of 2014 to compare against 2018.

Using the 2014 statistics, the drop in the reported cases of (a) homicide, (b) rape/incest, and (c) total crimes is 10.8%, 10.8% and is 28.7% respectively. However, the numbers quoted by the MP suggest a drop of 24.7%, 19.2% and 29.4% respectively. 

Therefore, while the MP’s numbers are correct, his reference year is wrong on two of the statistics. Using the correct reference years reveals that the percentage drop in homicide and rape/incest, to be around half of what is claimed by the MP. Nevertheless, the MP is right on the fact that all the statistics show a reduction. He is also approximately right on the claimed magnitude drop in total crimes.

Therefore, we classify his statement as PARTLY TRUE.

Exhibit 1: Crime reduction post-2014

FactCheck is a platform run by Verité Research. 
For comments, suggestions and feedback, please visit www.factcheck.lk.