Is It True That Only 5% of Sri Lankans Have “Other Relationships”? Let’s Look at the Facts

Recently, a claim has been circulating that “only 5% of people in Sri Lanka are involved in other (extramarital) relationships,” and that this information supposedly comes from the police.

But how accurate is this statement? And do the authorities actually collect such data?

Let’s break it down.

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Where Would Such Data Normally Come From?

When it comes to official statistics in Sri Lanka, there are two main government bodies people often refer to:

• Sri Lanka Police
  The Police are responsible for maintaining law and order. They collect data related to crimes, complaints, arrests, court cases, and public safety issues.
  However, they do not typically publish statistics about personal or consensual adult relationships unless those relationships are directly connected to a criminal investigation.

• Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka
  This department gathers national data on population, households, employment, education, and other socio-economic indicators.
  While they conduct surveys about marriage, divorce, and family structures, they generally do not publish specific statistics about private extramarital relationships.

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Why the 5% Figure Is Questionable

There are several reasons to be cautious about this claim:

1. No Clear Definition
   What exactly qualifies as an “other relationship”?

   • Emotional affairs?

   • Physical affairs?

   • Separated but not legally divorced couples?
     Without a clear definition, measuring such a percentage is extremely difficult.

2. Privacy and Sensitivity
   Extramarital relationships are highly sensitive and personal matters. People are unlikely to openly admit such information in official surveys.

3. Lack of Official Publication
   As of now, there is no widely recognized official report from the police or national statistical authorities confirming a specific “5%” figure.

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How Misinformation Spreads

Statements like this often spread through:

• Social media posts

• Informal speeches

• Misquoted interviews

• Clickbait headlines

When people see “Police say…” or “According to official data…”, the claim may appear credible — even when no formal report exists.

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What Should We Do as Readers?

In the digital age, critical thinking is essential. Before believing statistical claims:

• Ask: What is the source?

• Check: Is there an official report or published study?

• Consider: Is the topic realistically measurable?

If a statistic cannot be traced back to a verified document, it should be treated with caution.

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Final Thoughts

The claim that “only 5% of Sri Lankans are involved in other relationships” does not currently appear to be supported by publicly available official data.

Without transparent methodology, a clear definition, and a credible source, such figures should not be accepted as fact.

In a world full of viral information, responsible thinking matters more than ever.