Barely had the smoke cleared from the 13-hour riot at Mahara Prison when a wave of forged documents and invented quotes began circulating on Sri Lankan social media, each trying to score a political point. A letter \u201csigned\u201d by the Opposition Leader, a resignation quote \u201creported\u201d by ITN, and a bombshell \u201crevealed\u201d by a well-known priest \u2014 all built to look authentic. We investigated three of the most widely shared claims. Here is what we found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social Media Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Claim 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A letter circulating in the media, allegedly bearing Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa\u2019s signature, claimed that the government had exceeded its authority by imposing a curfew in the police division around Mahara Prison after the unrest there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact-Check<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The document lacked the standard fonts, spacing, formatting and text accuracy found in official Parliament or Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) media releases. No major or credible Sri Lankan newspaper, television channel or news website had reported such a statement. No such letter appeared on the official Facebook page of Sajith Premadasa<\/a> or the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)<\/a>. Our investigation confirmed that the SJB media unit had not sent any such letter to any media organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Samagi Jana Balawegaya Media Unit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to our inquiry, the unit confirmed that the letter was fabricated and that the Opposition Leader had neither issued nor made any such statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Sajith Premadasa Actually Said About the Mahara Incident<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sajith Premadasa said a government unable to manage the country\u2019s prison system cannot improve the lives of 22 million citizens or rebuild the nation. He noted that the government had earlier defeated an opposition no-confidence motion against the Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs, mocking the opposition in the process, yet just days after protecting the minister, the major crisis at Mahara Prison had once again exposed the government\u2019s failure. He accused the government of pushing the country further into crisis and in the wrong direction instead of solving existing problems. More details can be found here<\/a> and here<\/a>. While he commented on the government\u2019s administrative failures and the prison unrest, he did not criticise the imposition of the curfew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Claim 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A social media post claimed that an official ITN News Facebook report quoted Minister Harshana as saying: \u201cI take responsibility for the Mahara Prison incident as well, but I will not resign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook<\/a> | Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact-Check<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our preliminary investigation confirmed that the Minister of Justice made no such statement about the Mahara incident. No credible mainstream outlet reported any such remark, and as noted, ITN News did not publish any such report. The Minister\u2019s actual remarks on the Mahara incident are shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-10.png\")
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