Is Anura Kumara Dissanayake the Eighth Richest Person in Sri Lanka?

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As the presidential election approaches in Sri Lanka, social media has seen a surge in misinformation targeting Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) and a presidential candidate. Various false claims and misleading posts are being circulated, aiming to tarnish his reputation and influence public perception.

Social Media Posts

Social media platforms have recently seen a surge in posts alleging that Anura Kumara Dissanayake ranks as the eighth richest individual in Sri Lanka. These claims have been widely shared and discussed, sparking debates and confusion among the public regarding the politician's actual wealth and assets.

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We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact-Check Findings:

No Credible Evidence Supporting the Claim:

Absence of Reliable Sources: There are no reports or publications from reputable media outlets, financial institutions, or credible organizations that support the claim of Anura Kumara Dissanayake being among the top ten richest people in Sri Lanka.

Lack of Official Rankings: No official or recognized wealth ranking lists include Anura Kumara Dissanayake in such a high position of wealth within the country. Wealth rankings typically consider verifiable assets and financial disclosures, none of which corroborate this claim.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's Declared Assets:

Asset Declaration: As a public servant and Member of Parliament, Anura Kumara Dissanayake is required to declare his assets and liabilities. These declarations are intended to promote transparency and are available for public scrutiny.

Details of Declared Assets:

Property: A residential house located in Ranmuthugala, Kadawatha, registered under his wife's name.

Vehicles: Ownership of a Toyota Hilux Double Cab.

Financial Assets: Three bank accounts with disclosed balances aligning with a standard parliamentary salary.

Income: Monthly earnings comprise his MP salary of approximately Rs. 54,285 and an additional allowance of around Rs. 202,517.34.

Assessment of Wealth: The declared assets and income do not align with the immense wealth implied by being the eighth richest person in the country. The assets are consistent with those of a career politician living a modest lifestyle.His asset declarations can be read here

Historical Context of Similar Claims:

Recurring Misinformation: This is not the first instance where exaggerated claims about Anura Kumara Dissanayake's wealth have surfaced on social media. In the past, similar unfounded allegations have been circulated, often without any supporting evidence. Our article about such misleading information about Anura Kumara in past can be read below.

Read : FACT CHECK: Forbes සඟරාව ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ධනවත්ම දේශපාලඥයින් දස දෙනාගේ වත්කම් හෙළි කළාද?

Potential Motivations: Such claims may stem from political agendas aiming to discredit or undermine his public image by portraying him as hypocritical or corrupt, especially considering his advocacy for social justice and anti-corruption.

Opportunity for Rebuttal: Given the public nature of his asset declarations, any discrepancies or hidden wealth of such magnitude would likely have been exposed and addressed through official channels or investigative journalism.

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Conclusion:

The claim that Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the eighth richest person in Sri Lanka is false and lacks any credible evidence or support from official records. His publicly declared assets and income indicate a standard financial standing typical of a long-serving politician. The spread of such misinformation highlights the importance of verifying claims through reliable sources before accepting and sharing them on public platforms.