25 arrested for spreading fake pandemic stories on social media

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

Twenty five persons had been arrested for spreading fake news related to COVID-19 pandemic via social media, police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday.

He told The Island the suspects would be charged under the Quarantine Rules and Regulations and the Penal Code.

DIG Rohana said the suspects had put up false Facebook posts related to deaths in hospitals on the roadside.

“The Criminal Investigations Department initiated an investigation, following the publication of a report that many deaths had occurred on Sri Lanka on roads due to COVID-19.

 A 35-year-old individual had been arrested on Saturday (14) in Kadugannawa, over the spread of fake news related to COVID-19 deaths via social media, DIG Rohana said.

The arrest was made at Egodawatta, Henawala in Kadugannawa, by a special CID team.

The Police Spokesperson said that out of the 53 COVID-19 deaths reported in the country as of Saturday (14), only one person had collapsed and passed away on the road due to COVID-19. He added that the victim was a homeless person. “That is the only death of that nature. However, the fake news mentioned many such deaths had occurred.”

 Another four people had been traced in connection with the similar crime and they too would be arrested in due course, the DIG said.

Some people in custody had posted that several hospitals had released COVID-19 patients without treating them.

DIG Ajith Rohana advised social media users to refrain from sharing fake news.

“If you realise it is fake news and if you don’t know the truth of that particular news item, don’t forward it and don’t share it. If you are going to forward or share, sometimes you may commit a punishable offence.”