Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel
The recent floods and landslides that hit the country in the wake of heavy rainfall, which left 650 people dead and many more homeless, are a reminder of our lack of preparedness as a country. Meanwhile, a BBC video that allegedly warned of the impending rainfall in the country has been circulating in both the mainstream media and on social media. This is a fact-check we did regarding that video.
Social Media Posts:
Recently, local media reported that the UK’s BBC had issued an early warning about the weather in Sri Lanka. However, another social media video has been circulating, claiming that the weather forecast based on this was not an official video released by the BBC.
The video was published with the caption, “The BBC, which has been carrying the opposition’s lies, is at fault..! The “BBC VIDEO” that the opposition used to set the country on fire is not an official one..!”
It was circulated through Facebook as well.
We proceeded to check the accuracy of the circulated video.
Fact Check :
Many local media reports reported that a BBC weather report, which was broadcast on Thursday, November 25, 2025, predicted that Sri Lanka could expect rainfall of up to 300, 400, 500 mm, and floods.
Opposition politicians allege that the government did not take the necessary steps to deal with the depression despite the Meteorological Department’s prediction.
The video published by the BBC was also shared through social media.
You can watch the YouTube video, which was the basis for this video, as follows.
We took steps to verify whether the weather report presented by the BBC, which is included in the circulated video, was not an official video presented by the BBC.
The video is a weather forecast issued by the BBC’s official news service
Our investigation confirmed that the circulated video is a weather report broadcast by the BBC News service, the public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom, on November 24th, for the preceding few days.
In that, satellite imagery shows that a low-pressure area and several clouds are continuing to develop near Sri Lanka, and that exceptionally heavy rains, up to 300, 400, and possibly 500 millimetres, will occur over the next few days, which could lead to some flooding. They also predicted that a tropical cyclone could take place in the region.
Also, Ben Rich, who presented the weather report, was named as a weather forecaster for the BBC on the BBC website.
His Wikipedia page and LinkedIn also list him as a BBC weather forecaster and weather announcer.
Accordingly, it is confirmed that an official BBC weather report had predicted a possible rainfall and flooding in Sri Lanka on November 24th.
Forecast of the Director General of the Department of Meteorology
Furthermore, the Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayke, appeared on the Derana BIG FOCUS program on November 12th, in which he predicted that the current rainy weather conditions could occur.
This prediction was first made using mathematical models, and he explained that disturbances emerge according to changes in the atmosphere, noting that it is clearly visible that there is a disturbance in the atmosphere in the Bay of Bengal area southeast of Sri Lanka, and that this creates a disturbance in the lower atmosphere.
He explained that it has already been stated that there will definitely be an increase in rainfall due to this situation, particularly after November 14th. However, he stated that there will be a change in the current rainfall pattern during those few days.
He emphasized that a cyclone will not form all at once and that it needs to develop. The path of the cyclone will be examined as it develops.
Furthermore, he stated that based on his experience, this disturbance is likely to develop in a low-pressure area (low level) in the next few days.
He says that he cannot use the word “cyclone” at this time, but he does state that the weather conditions in Sri Lanka are likely to worsen, and that rainfall is possible, and that it is generally a level of rain that should be taken with caution.
He also mentions that, fortunately, Sri Lanka has mostly been hit by low-intensity cyclones.
‘November 11 was not about ‘Ditwa” – Director of the Forecasting Division of the Department of Meteorology
Meanwhile, the Director of the Forecasting Division of the Department of Meteorology told the BBC Sinhala News Service that the weather condition which was explained by the Director General on November 11th was not about ‘Ditwa’.
His statement is as follows.
“There is no way to give an advance warning. We can confirm it to the public only after it is identified. This is something that developed very quickly. We cannot predict that a cyclone will come next week. We can say that only after we identify the behaviour of the cyclone. It is a complex process and is not simple as it appears to be. As it is identified through data analysis, we identify that such a situation may come around the 25th. We can only issue a warning on 25th. 25 is when a low-pressure condition develops and becomes a cyclone.”
You can refer to the full media report from here.
BBC’s latest weather forecast
According to a weather report presented by the BBC on December 10, at this time of year, the northeast monsoon generally brings dry weather and sunshine across South Asia, but rainfall is largely limited to Sri Lanka and occasionally the Maldives.
There will be heavy sunshine across India; however, they are repeatedly saying that the heavy rainfall is headed towards Sri Lanka, with only occasional showers near the Maldives, and that most of the rain will affect Sri Lanka and some parts of far south India. The broadcast is here.
Conclusion
Our investigation shows that certain social media reports, which stated that the BBC weather forecast broadcast on November 24th, stating that there will be heavy rainfall for Sri Lanka, is a forecast made by some other party and is not an official prediction by the BBC, are false. It was confirmed that a forecast regarding the heavy rains and floods in Sri Lanka was published on the official website of the BBC on the 24th.
Join us to learn more about our investigative fact findings.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google News | TikTok | Youtube
Title:The claim that the circulating weather forecast by the BBC is not an official video is false!
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: False
