Fake Social Media Campaigns Used to Distort Election Results
Pile of Files to be Addressed After Elections
Digambaram Receives First Victory Message
Clash Between ‘Elephant’ and ‘Bud’ Could Harm President’s Campaign
Sajith’s Manifesto: A Promise Fulfilled at Any Cost
Fake social media bubble
The presidential election is just three weeks away, and as the campaign heats up, misinformation seems to be overshadowing the truth. Last week, it became evident that both traditional and social media, including platforms like YouTube, were inundated with false rumours, fake news, misleading advertisements, and bogus surveys. Various groups have introduced significant distortions of the truth, all aimed at influencing this year’s presidential election.
Back in 2019, we saw a similar scenario unfold. Social media was rife with fake news and fabricated survey results. For example, one highly publicized opinion poll predicted that Gota would receive 51% of the votes while Anura would get 45%. However, the actual results were starkly different: Gota secured 54% of the votes, whereas Anura only received 4%. This year, the distortion is even more pronounced, with YouTubers and social media influencers manipulating opinions to boost their subscriber counts.
Perhaps the most disheartening aspect is that some social media leaders have resorted to offering packages to politicians and political parties, complete with price lists for tarnishing or polishing the reputations of candidates. These actors have launched a one-sided, false propaganda campaign through their platforms, blatantly disregarding the rules. This misinformation led many to believe there would be a close race between Gota and Malimawa in 2019. However, as the results showed, when Gota won the election, those predictions crumbled entirely.
Rannan Eliya is in this lot
By last week, some social media network heads were seen pretending to be great heroes and claiming that they would win the presidential election this year by getting 51% approval. They started this campaign through an opinion poll started 6 months ago by a person named Ravi Rannan Eliya. Rannan Eliya said that Anura will get 51% and Sajith will get about 30% in this presidential election. When Rannan said that, not only the JVP leaders, but even the international media began to tell this lie to the world. But we pointed out that Rannan Eliya is a blatant liar, and to please someone’s contract, Rannan Eliya will release the results of his opinion poll.
Confirming our disclosure 100%, after that Rannan took steps to bring Sajith forward by pulling down the light. At that time, the leaders of the JVP, who carried Rannan outside on their shoulders, could even be seen issuing statements saying that his surveys were false.
An artificial wave
Within the last two weeks, many people saw how a large artificial wave was created called by the compass, through social media. Because of this, it was also seen that some people thought that Anura had come forward. But the information we have says that this fake wave even Anura could not imagine. But the problem is whether this distorted wave created on social media exists as a reality on earth. Because people do not make decisions about voting by looking at social media. After the struggle, people can be seen to be more politically rational and intelligent than before. And now people are aware of the environment more than ever.
This artificial upsurge had gone so far last week that some social media had reported that Anura would get 97% of the votes in this year’s presidential election. In other social media, it was reported that Anura will get more than 90% votes, and in other social media it will exceed 80%. The funniest thing here is that some characters who introduce themselves as the great fighters of social media tell this lie to the country as if it were true. They said that it is as if all the people of that province gather at the meetings of Compas. People do not come to meetings of other parties.
A massive crowds for Sajith
But last week, when tens of thousands of people gathered like a mass tsunami for three SJB meetings held on the same day in Ampara, Wellawaya and Tangalle areas, it was seen that this distortion of the compass, which had been carried on social media for two weeks, collapsed overnight. With these three meetings SJB got a lot of publicity on social media, it became clear to many that the high rise of the compass was an artificially created fake. At the same time, the media had also reported footage of Anura speaking to empty chairs at an Anura meeting in Negombo without the crowd. Through that, it was confirmed that the rise of the compass was fake.
However, we are by no means saying that there is no rise in the crowd in compass rallies. by any means, we are not saying that Anura’s meetings are not crowded. We are not at all saying that the crowd is only for Sajith. We are not saying that Sajith will win and Anura will be defeated.
But by last week, we had received some reliable information through the daily analysis by the intelligence services. There they finally stated that the compass has reached a certain higher level than the last period, but it is not enough to win. It was also reported that there has been no decline in Sajith’s popularity and that he is still at the top. Although we have received the percentages here, we refrain from publishing them this time due to ethical reasons. However, according to those results, it has been reported that a clear picture cannot be taken regarding Ranil and Namal. The reason for this is that Namal started his election campaign quite late. Therefore, it has been said that it is not yet possible to make a specific reference regarding the third place in the presidential election and that there is a possibility that Namal may advance to the third place. Such is the case with real surveys.
Rannan’s latest
Under such a background, Dr Rannan Eliya too released the results of his latest survey last week. However, this time Rannan’s opinion poll stated that Sajith got 37% while Anura got 38%. It was also mentioned that the President has reached 22%. The ‘Inside politics’ column continued with the information that Rannan Eliya’s opinion polls are false and cannot be trusted. We said there that from the beginning a Ranil-Sajith combination contract was seen through Rannan Eliya’s opinion polls, and that he aimed to bring an opinion to SJB that Anura can be defeated when the two come together. Confirming it again and again, Rajitha made a special statement to the media immediately after the poll was released and said that Ranil-Sajith should come together immediately. However, this time too we ask the people not to be fooled by such distorted opinion polls and to use their votes based on real information.
A strange campaign
In this background, last week a certain world-renowned multinational company doing business in Sri Lanka had planned to start a strange kind of campaign. Generally, multinational companies do not publicly support election campaigns of election candidates, but this multinational company was able to directly help Ranil’s election campaign through the planned campaign. There, they had done casual ways of supporting the election campaign of the President under the guise of putting their product on the market. At this time, we have not revealed the name of this multinational company for ethical reasons, but from the evidence we have received, we have seen how they are giving impetus to the election campaign of the President in a very light manner.
Previously, we have publicly advocated for the appointment of a public commission that can punish people who have opposed the postponement of elections at all possible times along this column. Accordingly, we are saying this time that multinational companies that casually influence the voting rights of this type of people should also be looked into. Strict decisions should be taken regarding such companies which affect the country’s democracy. It should be mentioned that we are ready to make a special disclosure with names in the future.
Ranil’s inner circle in disarray
By now, the manifestos of all the three main candidates aimed at the presidential election have been unveiled. The President’s manifesto was launched last Wednesday at the Taj Hotel in Colombo, while Anura’s manifesto was launched at the luxurious Monarch Imperial Hotel. But Sajith first presented his manifesto to Dalada and Malwatu Asgiri Maha Nahimis.
Kanchana’s text dropped
While talking about these policy statements, some interesting stories behind them are too surfaced to this column. Kanchana Wijesekera, Shehan Semasinghe and others who came from Pohottua were entrusted with the first preparation of the President’s policy statement. Although they worked hard to prepare the President’s manifesto, no one could imagine what happened to it in between. Despite that, the President had given a policy statement for printing at the last minute.
Accordingly, one of the people in charge of the printing work had taken steps to give this manifesto to Kanchana and Shehan, and the team from Pohottuwa who had read it were sweating profusely. The reason for that was because they had used a completely different literary language from the policy statement they had prepared, and had printed a policy statement that was oriented towards literature. Accordingly, the team including Kanchana, who acted immediately, pointed out the seriousness of this to the President and took steps to amend some of the facts as possible. At a certain place, the song ‘Bahai kiyala baha’ written taken from Titus Thotawattane’s children’s drama Doctor Hodahitha was also included, and it is rumoured that steps were taken to remove it later.
However, later this group was engaged in finding out who prepared this new manifesto using literary language instead of the manifesto they had sent. There they came to know that this manifesto was prepared by someone inside a certain government agency. Although this person tried to present himself as an independent person, they had come to know that this person had organized many pro-presidential meetings in his company in the past.
The money not paid
Apart from this, the election campaign of the President has also been somewhat hampered by now. That is because the necessary financial allocations have not been given to the constituency organizers and representatives from Pohottuwa to carry out the campaign activities. For this reason, many people have been seen staying at home without going to their seats.
Also, they have come to know that the members who came from Pohotutuwa to support the President have come up with the idea that the President cannot win, and therefore they are on the side of the President with the intention of six or seven of them contesting with the elephant symbol in the general election that follows the Presidential election and to become MPs.
The news is that not only the group that came from Pohottuwa but also the group that came to support the President from the Sri Lankan Freedom Party. That is why they had already taken steps to prepare the necessary background for contesting the general election with the symbol of the chair. Also, it has been learned that there has been a serious discussion within the SLFP team regarding whether to continue with the President. Accordingly, through this column, we responsibly claim that there is a possibility of several more SLFP MPs becoming independent in the future.
Wait till 10th
Under this situation, a group of young ministers who came together to support the President from Pohottuwa met the President last week and discussed this matter. When Pohottu’s ministers asked the President about this, the President told them to be patient until the 10th. The news is that the President has informed that this situation will change after that.
Tiran’s party to General Election
Last week, the Ministers of Pohottuwa held another meeting under the chairmanship of Dinesh at Temple’s trees. There, they had pointed out to Dinesh that if the President decided to contest with the elephant symbol after the presidential election, they would not have a party to contest with. Under the current situation, those MPs who have indicated that they cannot go back to Pohottuwa or the SLFP have also indicated that they should form a new alliance under the leadership of Dinesh.
Minister Tiran Alas, who was in the discussion, has mentioned that if so, he can give his party for that. Tiran has also mentioned that they can contest the general election as a new alliance by changing its name and symbol. However, according to the election law, there is no possibility to change the name or symbol of a party when nearing an election. Accordingly, those people will have to compete in the general election in the future by forming a false alliance from the party of Tiran Alas.
Kanchana-Harin Clash
Meanwhile, the ‘Inside politics’ column has received information regarding another serious incident that allegedly took place at the Anuradhapura stage where the President’s inaugural rally was held. According to the information we have, there was a heated argument between Kanchana and Harin behind the stage based on the list of speakers of the meeting. Kanchan has been entrusted with the task of organizing the meeting. Kanchana had mentioned that since the meeting is being held in Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura strongmen SM and Shehan Semasinghe should be given more opportunities. However, Harin has mentioned that the President should be given the opportunity to speak first. The story went far and there was a heated exchange between the two in the backstage. Later the incident was resolved but Kanchana, SM and Shehan‘s expectations did not materialise on the Anuradhapura stage.
Replace the photos sent
Meanwhile, last week on social media, we saw how a strange photo had gained a lot of publicity. The photo showed the members of the Kalutara district supporting the president discussing the election campaign. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Vidura Wickramanayake, Rajitha Senaratne, Piyal Nishantha and others were seen there, but there was no sign of a smile on the faces of any of them. Instead, they saw on everyone’s faces the signs of a helpless group of people with nothing to do.
The contract changes
Throughout we have been emphasizing the fact under a Samagijanabalawegaya government the clauses agreed with IMF which are not people friendly would be changed to people-friendly clauses.
The opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and the three members of the economic committee, Harsha, Iran and Kabir, had mentioned this publicly on several occasions and they had also taken steps to inform about it in every discussion they had with the International Monetary Fund. But the president and the heads of the government have always said that the agreement of the financial fund cannot be changed under any circumstances, and if they try to change it, the agreement will collapse and the country will go bankrupt again.
When the President and the government said so, SJB maintained their stand and said that under a new government, they would work to change the income tax and other tax rates that have affected the people adversely. It was also explained by SJB to the Finance Fund how to procure the necessary money for that shortfall. We reported in this column last week how the financial fund had also agreed to it. Despite this, the government continued to scare the people and said that nothing could be changed in the financial fund agreement.
Ranil’s secret chat
Meanwhile, last week we made a special disclosure and said how the president had secretly requested the financial fund to change the agreement which he said could not be changed. We discovered that the president, who had pointed out that he, had to listen to people’s criticisms, especially because of the tax rate imposed on income, had requested the permission of the financial fund to change it. According to this request, the financial fund has also agreed to amend the clause.
Before receiving this agreement, Mr. Kabir Hashim, who had called a press conference on behalf of SJB, had emphasized that under a SJB government, steps will be taken to lower the tax rate imposed on people’s income. Kabir said that there has been a big impact on other groups including doctors in the public service as well as the average salary earners in the private sector, and said that they will immediately work to change it. Accordingly, within the next few days, the president has planned to carry out a big campaign saying that the tax percentages have been lowered, but in truth, the credit should go to none other than SJB, who has indicated to the people from the beginning that this agreement will be changed.
Accordingly, there is another special point that appears through this. It is that the president and the government closed their eyes and signed the agreement of the financial fund, even though they had the ability to prepare and sign the terms of the agreement related to the financial fund to suit the country. The President’s eyes have also opened after the revelation that SJB will revise this agreement.
Wish you all the best
The ‘Inside Politics’ column has heard that Digambaram, the leader of the Plantation Party, received a phone call from a Pohottuwa stalwart who is in the government last week. It has also been learned that during this phone call, the Pohottuwa strongman who is in the government had accepted the defeat in the presidential election and expressed his opinion.
‘Your decision is right. We will lose the presidential election. It is also reported that this Pohottu strongman who is close to the President has taken steps to congratulate Digambaram by saying, ‘I am speaking to congratulate you’.
Fake files are out
After winning the presidential election this year, Samagi Jana Balawega and Jatika Jana Balawega have announced that the ministers who committed fraud and corruption during the previous government will be prosecuted and punished. Both sides have already stated that they already have the necessary files for that.
Based on this, we are ready to make another special disclosure through the column. It means that Sajith and Anura have now received the files related to several large-scale frauds that allegedly took place in the last two years. There, Sajith and Anura have received not only the information related to the corruption transactions of a powerful politician but also the information of a bank account in which a large amount of money has been credited.
In addition to this, the opposition has also received information that another powerful politician has bought a huge mansion located in Colombo Seven. It has also been learned from this information that a huge amount has been paid for this house, which has been bought from a certain powerful businessman. In addition to this, the opposition has also received information that this same politician has bought another large house in Colombo 7 in the name of another person.
Bank accounts
In addition to this, the opposition has also received a file related to a large amount of money received in the account of a friend of a person who is entering politics from a very clean family generation. Some of these files have gone to the hands of both Sajith and Anura, while some files have been received only by Sajith. It has been learned that all these incidents are not 10-12 years old, but hot incidents that have taken place within the last 2 years.
Accordingly, whether Sajith wins or Anura wins this year’s presidential election, the information we have says that many frauds would come out. Therefore, we emphasize to both parties to stop deceiving the people by showing false files, take strict action about the fraud and corruption in those files and punish the corrupt in public. We also hear that Sajith and Anura are ready to respond strongly.
After receiving these files in Sajith’s hands, Sajith, who acted immediately last week, contacted his legal team through zoom technology and inform them to initiate possible legal actions in this regard. There, Sajith had emphasized to them to prepare the necessary arrangements to file a case against these fraudsters immediately after winning the presidential election.
From the information we are getting from Anura’s side, it is said that there has been a long discussion regarding these files within Malimawa. Accordingly, if Malimawa wins, it is known that there is a possibility that more than 10 cases will be brought before the court.
