False Reports on the Risk of Rainfall Exceeding 300 mm Across the Island - Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English

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In recent days, false information has circulated on social media, falsely presented as statements issued by official institutions regarding prevailing weather conditions across the island. In response, the Factcrescendo team undertook an investigation to verify the accuracy of several such social media posts currently being shared online.

Social Media Posts:

Social media posts circulated claiming that the Department of Meteorology had warned of a risk of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 300 mm in the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Division over the coming days, due to the prevailing depression and the influence of El Niño conditions.

The posts further stated that a special coordination meeting to address this emergency situation was held yesterday (10) afternoon at the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat.

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Similarly, social media posts were shared stating that unprecedented flooding would occur in the south of Sri Lanka.

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Fact-Check:

The Department of Meteorology first checked whether the Department of Meteorology had predicted that rainfall exceeding 300 mm would occur in the future through the bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology. Nevertheless, no evidence was found that any area of the island was reported to have received rainfall exceeding 300 mm.

According to data analysis this morning (11), the low atmospheric disturbance that was over Sri Lanka has developed into a low pressure area and is currently located to the northeast of the island. The statement issued at 4 pm today stated that due to the influence of this system, the current rainy conditions in the island are expected to continue for the next few days.

It moreover stated that the sky will remain cloudy in most parts of the island with occasional showers or thundershowers, and that heavy rains exceeding 100 mm may occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Northwestern and Northern provinces and in the Trincomalee district. “There is no information about daily rainfall of three hundred to four hundred mm” – Department of Meteorology

However, regarding these posts circulating on social media, Senior Meteorologist of the Department, Mr. Malith Fernando, had stated that the Department of Meteorology has not reported about a daily rainfall of about three hundred to four hundred millimeters. He had expressed his views on this matter at a special media briefing held at the Department of Government Information (DGI) regarding the change in weather.

There is no information about a daily rainfall of three to four hundred millimeters. But there was a similar discussion during the Ditva cyclone. The rain will increase until the 13th. Then the total for several days may increase to three to four hundred millimeters. The daily rainfall value is used in Sri Lanka’s forecasting. The public is invited to use official information during times of disaster. We see false information on social media that scares people. We receive many complaints about such information coming through WhatsApp and Facebook. But it is difficult to respond to all of them. You can find out about the rain and sea 24 hours a day on our number 0112 686686 or you can call the Disaster Management Center’s 117 number.

Conversely, he further stated during the discussion that a low-pressure area would form starting May 11th, potentially leading to heavy rains exceeding 100 mm in the following days and rough seas after the 13th. The full media briefing held at the Department of Government Information regarding the upcoming rainfall is available here.

Our investigation confirmed that the posts circulating on social media indicating that extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 300 millimeters would occur were from a special coordination meeting held by the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat yesterday (10) to deal with the emergency situation.

Disaster Management Center

When inquired, the Director of the Meteorological Department, Mr. Pradeep Kodippili, stated that the department has not predicted a flood situation. He further urged the public not to be misled by false information spreading on social media and to always refer to official announcements issued by the Meteorological Department and the Disaster Management Center.

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Conclusion:

Our investigation determined that social media posts claiming the Department of Meteorology warned of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 300 mm are false. The Department of Meteorology confirmed that they did not issue such a prediction. Furthermore, the Disaster Management Center verified that social media claims about an unprecedented flood situation in the south of Sri Lanka are also false.