Is Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Sri Lanka's opposition leader, 64 years old?

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In recent weeks, Sajith Premadasa, the opposition leader of Sri Lanka, and his wife welcomed a new addition to their family—a daughter. Premadasa himself disclosed this joyful news during a public meeting.

However, alongside this celebration, there has been a concerning trend of misleading social media posts circulating about the opposition leader's private life, particularly targeting his wife. These posts aim to undermine Premadasa's credibility and integrity, raising questions about the ethics of public discourse and the spread of misinformation in the digital age.

Social Media Posts

The claim circulating on social media suggests that Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Sri Lanka's opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, is 64 years old and questions the possibility of giving birth to a child.

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Users commented on it like below.

We decided to do a fact-check.

Fact Check

Confirmed Age: According to the opposition leader's media secretary, Jalani Premadasa is a few years younger. Former MP and current member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party Hirunkia Premachandara also stated that Jalani was born in 1972.

Also, during a newspaper interview, Jalani mentioned that after completing her O/Ls during the insurgence in 1988-99, her father decided to send Jalani off to Australia for her higher studies. This also corroborates Jalani being born in the early 1970s.

Hence, she is younger than the opposition leader, who was born in 1967. This contradicts the claim circulating on social media that Jalani is 64 years old.

Age and Fertility: While Jalani Premadasa's age of 53 is within the average age range for menopause (45 to 55 years), it does not preclude the possibility of conception through natural means. While fertility generally declines with age, some women may still conceive naturally in their early 50s.

While a woman can conceive naturally at 53, it is quite rare. Cases of natural conception at this age are extremely unusual and often involve complications, such as irregular ovulation patterns or other medical anomalies.

However, thanks to reproductive technologies, having a baby even when you’re in your 40s or 50s has become a real option.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF is a reproductive technology that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory setting. It is commonly used by couples experiencing infertility issues, including advanced maternal age. IVF can bypass many of the challenges associated with natural conception in older women by directly implanting embryos into the uterus.

Given the age of Jalani Premadasa and the general decline in fertility beyond menopause, it is plausible that IVF was utilised to facilitate conception. During an interview three years ago, Jalani herself stated that it was a severe health condition that prevented her from conceiving and condemned dirty politics for using such sensitive matters in political stages.

However, without official confirmation from the couple or their medical representatives, we cannot definitively state the method by which their child was conceived.

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