{"id":15541,"date":"2025-07-19T04:15:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T04:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=15541"},"modified":"2025-07-19T04:15:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T04:15:12","slug":"clarification-on-professor-gomikas-statement-about-phosphate-fertilizer-availability-in-3-months-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/clarification-on-professor-gomikas-statement-about-phosphate-fertilizer-availability-in-3-months-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarification on Professor Gomika\u2019s Statement About Phosphate Fertilizer Availability in 3 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spreading fake news in the format of newspapers is commonly taking place now through social media. Here is a fact check we did on such a post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Posts :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A post in the format of a newspaper headline was circulated on social media stating that Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya, Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, had stated that, \u201cI didn\u2019t say we\u2019d make phospate in 3 months. Now only I relaize how difficult it is\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the responses received by the above post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This post was also shared through WhatsApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accordingly, we investigated whether Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya had made such a statement, and here\u2019s an insight into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explainer :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no mention of the newspaper that reported the above news. However, since the above social media post appears to be similar in format to the Mawbima newspaper, we investigated whether Mawbima had published a similar story on the relevant date.We discovered that the Mawbima newspaper had not published a similar story on the relevant day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In addition, we also checked the other major national newspapers, and such news wasn\u2019t published in any of them. Accordingly, we checked other mainstream media outlets as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it was not an article published in a newspaper, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya had made this statement on the ONAIR POLITICS program braodcast on the Independent Television Network on July 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, the journalist who hosts the program questions the Professor about why, although earlier some newspapers reported that it was promised to provide Phosphate in 3 months, there\u2019s still no Phosphate even though 3 months have passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to this, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya says that he had never made such a statement and that it is impossible to make them in 3 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough the headlines in newspapers reported that I made such a statement, I never said that Phosphate would be given in 3 months. It is impossible to do something like that in 3 months. Today we understand that this is really a difficult task and we are stuck in a lot of trouble.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Providing further explanation about the project, the professor stated that the project will be carried out by resolving existing problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, the journalists again question how long it will take to provide fertilizer under this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answering the question, the Professor states, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI might get into a lot of trouble answering that question. When I was questioned regarding that earlier, I said that we could finish it by the middle of this year. I though so. But it turns out it\u2019s more difficult than that. I can estimate a time frame, but I can\u2019t predict what will happen in the meantime.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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