Abisheka Did NOT blame JVP for 88/89 Attack on Dalada Maligawa In SL Vlog Podcast

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SL Vlog, a prominent vlogging channel in Sri Lanka, has found its content manipulated by certain groups and disseminated across social media platforms devoid of its original context.

Social Media Posts

Social media posts are spreading with clearly manipulated voice narration from a podcast, suggesting that a participant, Abhisheka, states that the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) was responsible for the attack on Dalada Maligawa in 1988/1989.

Facebook | Archived

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Digitally Altered Content: The original video from the SL Vlog podcast series depicts a discussion about the migration of Sri Lankan doctors to foreign countries. However, social media posts have circulated with altered content, including Abhisheka's voice being manipulated to sound like an elderly lady discussing the alleged JVP attack on Dalada Maligawa.

The original video content can be referred to here (23-24 minutes). We checked the entire podcast, and it did not contain any mention of an attack on Dalada Maligawa on 88/89, attributing that to JVP.

The audio-altered version and the original video can be compared below.

Bruno Diwakara's Statement: Bruno Diwakara, the owner of SL Vlog, confirmed that their podcast series did not discuss any attack on Dalada Maligawa by the JVP during the 1988/1989 period either.

Historical Context: In 1988/1989, Sri Lanka experienced a period of significant political unrest. During this time, the JVP, a Marxist-Leninist communist political party, was involved in an armed struggle to establish a socialist state in Sri Lanka.

Multiple reports and public statements from officials, including former Diyawadana Nilame Niranjan Wijayarathna, who is responsible for the safety of Dalada Maligawa, attribute the attack to youth groups related to JVP.

Here is a video of former Diyawadana Nilame explaining the 88/89 attack during an interview. (Watch between 20-30 minutes)

Media Reports: Various media reports state that the JVP was the main force behind the attack on Dalada Maligawa in 1988/1989. These reports provide historical documentation of the event and attribute it to the JVP's armed struggle during that period. Such reports can be read here and here Archived & Archived.

Clarification: It's essential to note that the circumstances surrounding the attack on Dalada Maligawa during 88/89 can be complex. Different perspectives and interpretations may exist on the attack. It’s a topic and an allegation that comes to light, especially during election campaigns. In 2001, JVP leader Somawansha Amarasinghe denied their links to the attack, which however was rejected by Diyawadana Nilame.

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