{"id":413,"date":"2019-12-06T06:32:17","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T06:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=413"},"modified":"2022-02-21T10:09:54","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T10:09:54","slug":"fac-check-wall-art-vandalized-with-posters-of-the-president-gotabaya-rajapaksa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/fac-check-wall-art-vandalized-with-posters-of-the-president-gotabaya-rajapaksa\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact Check: Edited image used to claim wall art disfigured with posters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A recent drive to create wall arts around many parts of the country was lauded by many quarters irrespective of political differences, while some concerns were raised more recently about the quality of some of the paintings and whether there should be some guidelines before making decisions on such painting and the conveyed message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A post on Facebook user called Virajay Vidhuranga posted in Sinhala stating that \u201c\u0d85\u0db4\u0dd2 \u0db8\u0dda \u0dbb\u0da7 \u0d9a\u0ddc\u0da0\u0dca\u0da0\u0dbb \u0dbd\u0dc3\u0dca\u0dc3\u0db1 \u0d9a\u0dbb\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1 \u0dc4\u0dd0\u0daf\u0dd4\u0dc0\u0dad\u0dca \u0dc0\u0dd0\u0da9\u0d9a\u0dca \u0db1\u0dd1.\u0db8\u0dda \u0dc0\u0d9c\u0dda \u0db8\u0dd2\u0db1\u0dd2\u0dc3\u0dca\u0dc3\u0dd4 \u0d89\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1\u0d9a\u0db1\u0dca\u201d. that translates to \u201cThere\u2019s no point in how much we try to beautify this country, as long as there are people like these\u201d, condemning the act of pasting posters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on a wall art as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook Link<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Archived Link<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

We observed that multiple Facebook users have shared the same image with different captions and some of these posts have captions written in a sarcastic manner. There were many responses suggesting that this image is an evidently edited picture and an attempt to downgrade the street painting drive going around the country, hence we decided to investigate the posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Check <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a tweet commended the efforts of young groups who took the time and effort to repaint the walls in several cities around the country with imposing caricatures and works of art. The youth had undertaken the work solely on their own accord with no expectation for monetary gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A strong foundation is being laid to change the course of our future by the youth, with their initiative, leadership, & teamwork. Bringing forth creativity as a positive force in our society is symbolic of a productive culture in the making. I am really proud of these youngsters pic.twitter.com\/4cxdu11m2j<\/a><\/p>— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) December 2, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>