SJB Rejects Viral Document on Alleged Social Media Campaign!

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As elections draw near in Sri Lanka, there is often a surge in the spread of purported documents on social media, often targeting specific candidates or political parties. Let’s look at one such viral image, which claimed to be a set of leaked documents related to SJB's social media strategy, especially targeting NPP.

Social Media Posts

A small, printed note claiming to be the minutes of a meeting held on August 25th, detailing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) 's social media campaign strategy, has gone viral on social media platforms. The note purportedly reveals confidential strategies discussed during the meeting.

FB | Archived

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Fact-Check Summary: The viral document has been denounced by the official SJB social media accounts as fake, with a warning of legal action against those who continue to share it. The SJB's legal representative confirmed that the document was fabricated and complained to the Election Commission regarding the alleged fake document.

Explanation

No mainstream media outlets have reported on this letter, and independent verification of the document’s authenticity remains elusive. The letter or the accompanying social media posts do not divulge any information regarding the location or personnel involved in the meeting. All the places where the names appear in the document are evidently struck out.

Investigation

SJB has responded through its official social media channels, categorically denying the document's authenticity. They described it as a "fabricated, false, and fake document," warning that those involved in spreading it could face legal repercussions.

Archived

To further clarify the situation, we contacted the SJB lawyer who authored the official notice. The lawyer reaffirmed the party's stance, stating unequivocally that the document is fabricated and not based on any actual meeting or discussion within the SJB.

The lawyer emphasised that if the spread of this false document continues, the party is prepared to take legal action against those responsible.

Complaint to Election Commission

SJB's legal team also made a formal complaint to the Election Commission regarding the circulation of the above fraudulent document, requesting an immediate investigation and appropriate legal action to prevent the further spread of misinformation. The full complaint letter is seen below.

Complaint-to-Elections-Commission-Fraudulent-Docs

Analysis

Despite the SJB's official denial, complaint to EC and the lawyer's confirmation, no mainstream media outlet has picked up the story or provided coverage. This lack of coverage could be due to the ongoing political climate, where numerous such claims and counterclaims are made, often with little substantiation.

Based on our investigation, we were unable to independently verify the authenticity of the document due to the nature of the claim and the absence of corroborative evidence.

However, it is essential to note that the creation and dissemination of forged documents, especially during politically sensitive times, are not uncommon. Social media platforms can quickly amplify such content, leading to widespread misinformation.

Similar documents have also gone viral on social media previously, and below is a clarification in Sinhala for one such instance back in 2022.

Also Read: FACT CHECK: ඉදිරි ජනාධිපතිවරණය සඳහා ජ.වි.පෙ ප්‍රචාරණ කටයුතු වෙනුවන් Ogilvy සිදුකළ යෝජනාවක්?

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Conclusion

The SJB has strongly denied the authenticity of the viral document and their legal representative has warned of potential legal actions against those spreading it. While independent verification is challenging, the evidence leans heavily towards this being a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

In the current political environment, social media users must exercise caution and critical thinking before sharing or believing such documents. The spread of false information can have significant consequences, particularly during election periods, and individuals should be wary of unverified content that surfaces online.