Posts are circulating on social media claiming that the Northern Province Governor, N. Vedhanayahan, has banned Vesak celebrations in the North. As this has sparked widespread criticism, FactSeeker investigated the veracity of these claims.

Social Media Posts:
Although this piece of information is being circulated in the format of a newspaper clipping, there is no evidence to suggest that such news was published in any mainstream media outlet or established newspaper.

Fact-Check:
If the Northern Province Governor had issued an official directive banning the distribution of Dansal or other Vesak decorations in the Northern Province during this Vesak season, it would have been reported as breaking news by mainstream national media. However, no reputable media outlet has published such a report.

Furthermore, none of the social media users sharing this post have specified which newspaper published this article. The visual layout, typography, and writing style do not match any established newspaper operating in Sri Lanka, making it evident that this is a fabricated newspaper layout.

To verify the authenticity of the claim, FactSeeker contacted Northern Province Governor N. Vedhanayahan directly. He confirmed that the news is entirely fabricated and shared the official clarification statement issued by his office.

Official Statement from the Northern Province Governor’s Office:

” The news circulating on social media over the past few days claiming that the Northern Province Governor has banned the distribution of dansal and Vesak decorations in the Northern Province during this Vesak season is completely false and baseless.

I wish to state with utmost responsibility that no such decision has been taken by the Governor’s Secretariat, and no discussions have taken place in this regard.

These fake news stories are being deliberately fabricated and spread by certain factions with the malicious intent of disrupting the long-standing ethnic and religious harmony among our communities and causing public unrest.

An official complaint regarding these defamatory and malicious social media campaigns has already been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Therefore, I kindly request everyone not to believe such baseless fake news, not to be misled by false propaganda, and to continue to maintain ethnic and religious harmony and peace.

N. Vedhanayahan, Governor, Northern Province.”

Additionally, when FactSeeker inquired with the Jaffna Police Station, officials confirmed that the circulating news is entirely false and no such restrictions or directives have been issued by the Governor.

Furthermore, during the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Department of Government Information, journalists questioned the Minister of Mass Media, Nalintha Jayatissa, regarding this issue. The Minister clarified that the news circulating on social media is completely far from the truth and that the Northern Province Governor has issued no such directive.

Cabinet Press Briefing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7FPDlg4N34]

Verdict:
FactSeeker confirms that the claims circulating on social media stating that Dansal or other Vesak decorations have been banned in the Northern Province are completely false. This misinformation has been deliberately manufactured and disseminated with the narrow motive of inciting communal tension.