No Decision from Sarath Fonseka to Join with NPP!

දිනපතා සත්‍ය කරුණු දැන ගැනීමට අපගේ WhatsApp සමුහයටමෙතනින් එකතුවන්න.

As the prospects of elections are gradually looming in Sri Lanka, discussions about possible alliances have also slowly started taking shape. Possible personnel changes from the ruling party and the main opposition party have been key discussion points in this regard.

Our investigation focuses on the deliberate targeting of SJB Chairman Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka through these posts.

Social Media Posts

Social media posts suggest that Sarath Fonseka, the Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) political party, the main opposition part of the country, is planning to join the National People’s Power (NPP) party.

Facebook | Archived

We decided to look at the facts behind this claim.

Explanation

Social Media & Mainstream Media Check:

We investigated various social media and mainstream platforms to find any reports or interviews where Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka announced his decision to join the NPP. However, no credible news reports supporting this claim were found.

Official social handles of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka also do not disclose any intention about Fonseka’s plans to join with NPP.

Direct Confirmation from SF’s Secretary:

We contacted Gaya Basnayake, the secretary of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, for direct confirmation. According to Basnayake, no decision has been made regarding Fonseka joining the NPP. He confirmed that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is planning to participate in the SJB's anti-government protests tomorrow as well.

Gaya Basnayake acknowledged that, in politics, discussions with various political leaders can take place personally. However, he emphasised that no decision has been made regarding Fonseka's association with the NPP.

Furthermore, the NPP media unit also denied the social media claims.

In early 2023, also with the possibility of LG polls in 2023, there were social media claims that Sarath Fonseka was planning to join with NPP alongside a group of MPs from SJB, which, however, did not materialise either.

However, looking back at the events that have taken place in recent months and some of the statements made by MP Fonseka also indicate his intentions to chart a new political course. In a recent statement, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka stated that if the majority of the public requested, he intends to contest in the upcoming presidential election, as seen here.

Here is another video of SJB Chairman Sarath Fonseka clarifying his stance during a recent interview.

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Conclusion:

The claim suggesting that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is planning to join the National People’s Power (NPP) is not supported by any credible evidence. Our fact-check, based on investigations into social media posts and mainstream media and direct confirmation from Sarath Fonseka's secretary, Gaya Basnayake, indicates that no such decision has been made yet. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is even set to participate in the SJB's anti-government protests on 30^th January, according to the information provided by his secretary.

As with any political scenario, it's important to stay updated on official statements from the involved parties, and any further developments should be verified through reliable sources.