Claim 1:

A post published by a Facebook account named “நல்லூரான் நவம்” using the unauthorized logo and name of the leading Tamil news outlet “வீரகேசரி இன்றைய செய்திகள்“. 

“Sinhalese people, why this divisiveness? Is it right for the government to show discrimination between Tamils and Sinhalese? The government acts dishonestly towards Tamil people in all matters. Therefore, Sinhalese people, how can there be ethnic unity in the country?”

This post alleges that the newly introduced Metro bus service is being withheld from Jaffna and that the government is displaying ethnic discrimination against the minority Tamil community1.

Claim Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19P1HwMdfc/

Claim 2:

A subsequent post published by the same Facebook account on August 2. 

“Following our  stern warning, the Anura government has announced that it will import state-of-the-art luxury Metro buses from Japan for the intellectual Jaffna community. It is worth noting that the Metro bus provided to the southern region is a Chinese bus.”

Claim  Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19KAAAJEkw/

What is the Truth?

The claims circulated on social media are completely false and misleading. Based on official government data and timeline verification, the actual facts are as follows:

1. Official Announcement on July 31:

Well before the social media posts containing warnings or allegations were published (around August 2), Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake had already officially announced the expansion plan for the Metro bus service on July 31, 2026.

2. Phased Rollout and Fleet Allocation:

• Phase 1 (August–September): A fleet of 121 Metro buses acquired from China and other countries is undergoing registration and legal formalities to be deployed in Colombo and surrounding urban areas by late August or September.
• Phase 2 (By Year-End): An additional fleet of 50 Metro buses expected from Japan before the end of the year will be used to expand services beyond Colombo to Jaffna and Kandy.

3. Infrastructure & Long-Term Goals:

• Dedicated Metro Depots are being planned and established in both Jaffna and Kandy to support uninterrupted operations in those districts.
• The government’s long-term objective is to encourage public transit use in order to reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and environmental pollution.
• The government aims to expand the Metro fleet to over 500 buses by 2030, with passenger information displayed in Sinhala, Tamil, and English across the network.

Official Media Sources

• News Source 1: Athirady Tamil News – July 31 Announcement
  
• News Source 2: Newswire – New Metro buses to enter service soon; Jaffna and Kandy by year-end
  
• News Source 3: Daily Mirror – Metro bus service to expand to Jaffna, Kandy by year-end
  

Conclusion

The decision to extend Metro bus services to Jaffna was officially announced by the government on July 31, prior to the posts published by the “நல்லூரான் நவம்” account on the impersonated “வீரகேசரி இன்றைய செய்திகள்” Facebook page.

Taking credit for a pre-planned government administrative procedure by claiming it was forced by one’s own social media warnings is a textbook example of  Narrative Hijacking used by actors spreading disinformation.

Verdict: Claims that the government is discriminating against Jaffna by withholding Metro buses are FALSE. These posts misinform readers while attempting to provoke ethnic disharmony and hate speech on social media.

1. New Metro buses to enter service soon; Jaffna and Kandy by year-end – Newswire, https://www.newswire.lk/2026/07/31/new-metro-buses-to-enter-service-soon-jaffna-and-kandy-by-year-end/
2. Metro bus service to expand to Jaffna, Kandy by year-end: Minister – Daily Mirror, https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/breaking-news/Metro-bus-service-to-expand-to-Jaffna-Kandy-by-year-end-Minister/108-347152