As Sri Lanka’s presidential and parliamentary elections approach, social media is increasingly becoming a platform for the spread of misleading claims about politicians. This surge in misinformation is creating confusion among the public, with false narratives and doctored images being widely shared to influence voter perceptions. The proliferation of such content highlights the need for vigilant fact-checking and responsible online behavior to ensure a fair and informed electoral process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social Media Posts <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Social media posts claim that NPP National List MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that if the NPP comes to power in the upcoming elections, the Kandy Dalada Perahera will only be allowed if elephants are not used for the function. Additionally, it is claimed that she said the Sinhala Buddhist function should be conducted with the collaboration of all ethnicities, including Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook<\/a> | Archived<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n We decided to do a fact check on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact-Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Verification of Source:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The claim was initially spread using the logo of Dasatha, a web-based news platform<\/a>. To verify the authenticity of this claim, we first checked the Dasatha Facebook page<\/a> and website. No such news or statement attributed to Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was found on these platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check with Mainstream Media:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We also reviewed reports from mainstream media sources to determine if Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had made any public statements regarding the Kandy Dalada Perahera or the involvement of elephants in the procession. No such statement has been reported by any credible news outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Direct Communication with Dr. Harini Amarasuriya:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To further clarify, we reached out directly to Dr. Harini Amarasuriya regarding the claims being circulated on social media. Dr. Amarasuriya categorically denied making any such statement. She confirmed that the news being spread is completely false and misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow us and stay up to date with our latest fact checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Google News<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>TikTok<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The claims circulating on social media that Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated the Kandy Dalada Perahera would only be allowed without the use of elephants and that it should involve all ethnicities are false. These statements have not been made by Dr. Amarasuriya, and the misinformation appears to be intentionally misleading. Always verify the authenticity of such claims by checking credible sources or directly contacting the individual concerned before spreading information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdHDRr67PVJwuU81VkCdp0A687ridQjsb--LvOyMGtJmHu1mxB2ZnJ_PoZcv15oopNZ7u4O55i3y_l-SWQGSMcWUHgTEjCGd8TILGtVhQ342R2bvDPBWx7Gz-_oArP6Tm33NW1FV9lAGCDqk9kFynZ8f2czoVyNIeSjgZROjIihRPlyUra9Z7M?key=8oIFVST4s8VQgbcu5wk7gg\")