Former parliamentarian Harsha de Silva today claimed that the government was withholding first quarter GDP data. Speaking to reporters out side the Census and Statistics Department (DCS) in Battaramulla, the former MP said that the Department had still not released data on first quarter GDP growth rate. "I spoke to the officials of the Department today with regard to the delay in releasing the relevant data." "We know for a fact that the GDP growth rate is negative for the first quarter. We have heard from sources that the government is either trying to influence the department to change the figure to a positive one or is trying to delay releasing the data until the general election is over." He added that the data pertaining to the time period from 1st January to 31st  March, was to be released on the 28th of June. "The Director General of Census and Statistics Dr. I.R. Bandara said that the data will be released on the second week of July. However, it has not yet been released," Silva  added. The DCS earlier this month said the delay was because it was still in the process of verifying the data submitted by certain State agencies.