The message circulating on social media platforms and messaging networks including WhatsApp stating “Emergency notice to all citizens from all police stations” is fake.
We noticed that this news was shared on social media last May as well. Following that we did a fact check on the particular message.
During our research in this regard, we observed that this message which was spread through WhatsApp was also shared more on social media platforms including Facebook.
Some of the screenshots of the message are attached below.
Hashtag Generation made an inquiry in this regard to the Police Media Spokesperson Mr. Nihal Talduwa. His statement is as follows.
“Five-six months ago the news was shared and we declared it fake, and then the news came out again. It is also fake news.“
And at the end of this fake message, it is mentioned as the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the latest gazette announcements issued by the Presidential Secretariat, no such Ministry has been named and the main Cabinet Ministry in charge of the police under this scope is the Ministry of Public Security. Click here for the gazette notification.
During an inquiry by Hashtag Generation Minister of Public Security Tiran Alas confirmed that neither the Ministry of Public Security nor the police have issued such an announcement or message.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the above news which is often shared on social media is completely fake.
Check here for the previous fact-check done by Hashtag Generation in this regard.
For more Fact Checks by Hashtag Generation, here.
