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On social media, it is common to see content created using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread false information. Meanwhile, it is also possible to see cases where real events are used to hide the truth by claiming that they have been created through artificial intelligence. This is a fact-check we conducted on such a post.
Social Media Posts:
According to the video circulating on social media, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Jagath Withanage has stated that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not attend the launch of Udaya Gammanpila’s book “Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks”. The MP states that the relevant photos and videos were created using artificial intelligence, and that such things are common nowadays.
Meanwhile, the mainstream media also reported the statement made by MP Jagath Withana thus, thus, and thus.
At the same time, a few days before MP Jagath Withana made this statement, MP Nalin Bandara of the same party, responding to a question raised by a journalist, stated that the Opposition Leader did not go to the launch of Gammanpila’s book and that photographs of the Opposition Leader had been added to it using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Social media posts were also created using that statement by MP Nalin Bandara.
Several other posts posted on Facebook based on MP Nalin Bandara’s statement are here, here and here.
We took the following steps to verify the accuracy of the statements made by MPs Nalin Bandara and Jagath Withana, and the notes created in connection with them.
Fact Check:
Mainstream media reports
In examining this, we primarily focused on mainstream media reports on March 31, when the book “Searching for the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks” was launched by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya’s leading lawyer, Mr. Udaya Gammanpila. Almost all media outlets, including mainstream television channels and news websites, covered the event and published footage and photographs showing that former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa were also present.
Other media outlets reported the news this way, this way, and this way, with footage showing Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa attending the book launch.
Simultaneously, several official websites reported that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was present at the launch of Gammanpila’s book, here and here.
It is clear that the statements made by MPs Nalin Bandara and Jagath Withana that the Opposition Leader did not attend the launch of Udaya Gammanpila’s book, and that the scenes and photographs were created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), are untrue. We have taken steps to further investigate this matter to confirm it.
Is Sajith not here? Udaya Gammanpila’s response
Journalists questioned Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila regarding the statement made by MP Nalin Bandara that Sajith Premadasa did not attend the launch of his book “Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks” at a recent press conference.
At that time, Mr. Gammanpila stated that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not come there alone, but came with an advisor and security guards. Mr. Gammanpila also stated that if anyone has any doubts about that, they can ask the Opposition Leader himself to clear up their doubts.
Meanwhile, Mr. Udaya Gammanpila has posted more than 70 photos on his Facebook page regarding the launch of his book. Among those photos, a photo showing him welcoming the Opposition Leader with a handshake, as well as several photos confirming the Opposition Leader’s participation in the event, can be seen in the same photo collection.
It is therefore clear that the claims that Mr. Sajith Premadasa did not attend the event and that the photographs and videos were created using artificial intelligence are false.
Live broadcast of the book launch of “Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks”
At the same time, the launch of the book “Finding the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks” written by Mr. Gammanpila was broadcast live on Mr. Gammanpila’s official YouTube channel, and when examining the footage, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa can be clearly seen sitting in the front row seat of the house on several occasions.
The party confirms that the opposition leader attended the launch of Gammanpila’s book.
Concurrently, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya has confirmed that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa attended the launch of the book “Searching for the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks,” written by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila. Media reports state that MP Mujubur Rahman confirmed this. The MP has stated that claims that the photos were created using artificial intelligence are false. Details are available here and here.
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Conclusion:
Our investigation shows that the statements made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MPs Nalin Bandara and Jagath Withana that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not attend the launch of the book “Searching for the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks,” written by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila, are untrue. Furthermore, the statements made by the relevant MPs that the photographs and footage showing the Opposition Leader were created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also false.
Title: Fact Check: Sajith Premadasa Did Attend Udaya Gammanpila’s Book Launch
Fact Check By: Sagarika Chathumali
Result: False
