Lankadeepa newspaper disclosed about a testicle trafficking on 2nd December that is said to be taking place in a private hospital in, Colombo. The same headline was reported by Derana TV channel on 3rd December. With the headline being disclosed by mainstream media, significant discussions in this regard were observed among social media users.
A post claiming that a statement made with regard to the testicle trafficking by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana was observed circulating on social media platforms. The statement mentioned in the post was declared as “Dr. Shafi’s wife is behind the testicle trafficking”. The logo of the Dinamina newspaper was also used at the bottom of the note to indicate the public as it was reported by the Dinamina newspaper.
Hashtag Generation did a fact-check in this regard. First, we checked whether this news had been reported through the social media page and the website of the Dinamina newspaper. We examined the Dinamina newspaper that was published last week as well. It was revealed that no such news was reported in the Dinamina newspaper, website nor the social media page. Also, we made an inquiry in this regard from Mr. Gamini Jayalath, Editor-in-Chief of Dinamina newspaper. He stated that no such news was reported in the Dinamina newspaper or the Dinamina website.
Furthermore, we made an inquiry in this regard from MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana. He stated that he had never made such a statement and that some people are posting such fake posts on social media to embarrass him.
The news circulating on social media stating Dr. Shafi’s wife is behind the testicle trafficking, alleged to be said by Prof. Channa Jayasumana is fake.
For more Fact Checks by Hashtag Generation, here.
