False Claims of Dilith Jayaweera's Withdrawal from Presidential Race

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As the Sri Lankan presidential election approaches, a surge of misleading information about candidates is spreading rapidly, especially on social media. These false claims and edited content are being circulated to mislead voters and influence public perception, creating confusion in the lead-up to the election. Fact-checking efforts are crucial in this context to debunk these inaccuracies and provide accurate information to the public.

Social Media Posts

Social media posts are circulating a letter allegedly written by Dilith Jayaweera to the executive board of the Sarwajana Balaya movement, stating that he is not willing to contest the upcoming presidential election. The claim suggests that despite being selected as their presidential candidate, Dilith Jayaweera has decided to withdraw.

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We decided to do a fact check on this.

Fact-Check Findings:

Verification of the Letter's Authenticity:

Dilith Jayaweera's media unit has categorically denied the authenticity of this letter, stating that it is fake and was not written by him.

The content of the letter closely resembles another letter written by MP Dhammika Perera to the SLPP general secretary, where Perera announced his unwillingness to contest in the presidential election. This similarity strongly suggests that the letter attributed to Jayaweera is a fabrication.

Lack of Mainstream Media Coverage:

No credible mainstream media outlets have reported on this alleged letter or Jayaweera’s withdrawal from the presidential race. Given the significance of such an announcement, it is highly unlikely that legitimate news sources would ignore such a development.

Gevindu's Response: We have come across a statement of MP Gevindu Kumaratunga,who supporting Sarwajana Balaya stating this letter is fake.That related TV program can be watched here

Sarwajana Balaya Movement's Response:

As of now, there has been no official statement from the Sarwajana Balaya movement confirming or denying the authenticity of the letter. However, the denial from Jayaweera’s media unit is a strong indication that the letter is not genuine.

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Conclusion:

The letter being circulated on social media, claiming to be from Dilith Jayaweera, is fake. The content appears to have been copied from a legitimate letter by MP Dhammika Perera, and there is no credible evidence supporting the claim that Jayaweera has withdrawn from the presidential race. Social media users are advised to disregard these false claims and rely on verified information from credible sources.