A text message is shared via Whatsapp as an announcement made by the Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka, mentioning that acid rains would fall in the coastal areas such as Rathmalana, Angulana, Mount Lavinia, Lunawa, Wellawatte, and Kollupitiya. The text message further warns not to get exposed to this rain as the rainwater containing the toxins from the burning ship ‘X-press Pearl’, would even cause death.
When inquired by Ms. Udeni Weerasinghe, a senior meteorologist at the Department of Meteorology about the message, she confirmed that it was fake and that there was no such danger affecting coastal areas in Sri Lanka caused by the ‘X-press Pearl’ shipwreck.
