Viral Image of Dilith Jayaweera and Companions Walking in Mud Is Altered!

Dilith Jayaweera, a prominent Sri Lankan businessman and media personality, has been thrust into the spotlight as a presidential candidate. As the election approaches, a surge of misleading and false information targeting him is circulating on social media. These posts often aim to discredit his candidacy or confuse the public. The spread of such misinformation highlights the increasing challenges of navigating truth and fiction in the digital age, particularly for high-profile individuals like Jayaweera during critical electoral periods.

Social Media Posts

A viral image on social media claims to show Sarwajana Balaya's presidential candidate, Dilith Jayaweera, along with MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, some of the prominent members of the 'Sarvajaya Balaya' alliance. The group is seen as walking in the mud with trousers and no dress on the upper part of their bodies.

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We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

Our investigation into this claim began with a reverse image search, which led us to a video depicting a similar scene. The footage shows Dilith Jayaweera and his companions visiting the Nallur Kovil, a prominent Hindu temple in Sri Lanka. Multiple media outlets covered this visit, confirming the presence of Jayaweera and members of the broader alliance during the visit.

(Watch in 14 seconds )

Analysis of the Viral Image

Original Context: In the original video, Jayaweera and his companions are dressed in traditional "vetti," a conventional garment among the Tamil communities, with a white unstitched cloth wrap for the lower body. They adhere to the temple's customs, which require male devotees to be bare-chested. This traditional attire is common when visiting Hindu temples like Nallur Kovil.

Below is the image comparison between the original and the altered version.

Alteration in the Viral Image: The viral image has been digitally manipulated to make it appear that Jayaweera and his companions are walking in mud, wearing trousers instead of traditional attire. This alteration distorts the context of the original event, misrepresenting the individuals involved.

Cultural Context: It is customary for male devotees to be bare-chested when visiting certain Hindu temples, including Nallur Kovil. The claim that they were walking in mud is entirely unfounded and a fabrication intended to mislead viewers.

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Conclusion

The viral image circulating on social media, allegedly showing Dilith Jayaweera and his companions walking in mud with short trousers, is manipulated. The original video, from which the image was taken, shows the group visiting Nallur Kovil in traditional attire, following the cultural practices associated with the temple. The claim is false and has been deliberately altered to misrepresent the event.