Ruwan Gunasekara, Deputy Inspector General of the Legal Division of the Sri Lanka Police, has issued a stern warning to all media outlets, urging them not to allow individuals to make statements that incite public sentiments without any factual basis. He emphasized that such unfounded claims are not only false but also constitute a criminal offense under the country’s laws.
The warning comes in the wake of a recent incident involving Anuja Rashantha Jayasinghe, who made controversial statements during an interview on a YouTube channel. In his interview, Jayasinghe alleged that the chudamanikya (jeweled pinnacle) and the gems embedded in the base of the Anuradhapura Ruwanweli Maha Seya were removed and replaced with fake gems. He admitted that his statement was made based on a “force he felt,” without any substantial evidence.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police stressed the importance of preventing the dissemination of such baseless and provocative statements across electronic, print, and social media platforms.
In response to Jayasinghe’s claims, the Attorney General, Government Advocate Shakthi Jagodaarachchi filed an indictment against him before the Gampaha High Court. The indictment accuses Jayasinghe of intentionally attempting to provoke the audience watching the program, with the knowledge that such actions could disturb public order. The charges were filed under Sections 120 and 490 of the Penal Code of Sri Lanka, which pertain to stirring up or attempting to stir up the emotions of Sri Lankan citizens.
As legal proceedings move forward, the court is prepared to address the charges against Jayasinghe, ensuring that individuals who attempt to disturb public order through unfounded claims face appropriate consequences for their actions.
