Misinformation Alert: Old Video Shared with Wrong Meaning
A video is going viral on social media. People say it shows Sri Lanka’s former police chief, Deshabandu Tennakoon, talking about ways to escape arrest. But this is not true. The video is from an old interview in 2023. In that interview, Tennakoon was talking about drug dealers running away from the police. This false claim became popular after Tennakoon surrendered to the police on March 19, 2025. He had been hiding for more than two weeks.
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False Claims About the Video
Many people shared the video on Facebook. They said Tennakoon was telling people how to avoid arrest.
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But if we look closely, the video has a text that says “Neth News YouTube.”
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Reporters checked the video using special tools. They found out that the video was first posted on December 21, 2023, by Neth News.
In the original interview, Tennakoon answered a question about drug operations. He said police sometimes warn about operations in advance. This gives drug dealers time to run away, but they will still be caught later.
Why Is Tennakoon in Trouble?
Tennakoon is in trouble because of a drug raid in 2023. He allowed the raid even though it broke police rules.
During the raid, a police officer died, and another was badly hurt.
No drugs were found, so people started asking if the raid was real or not.
After Tennakoon surrendered, the government said they will remove him from his job.
Checking the Facts
- Looking at the Video
- The video is old.
- It is not about Tennakoon’s legal problems now.
- What the Police Say
- A police spokesperson, Buddhika Manatunga, said Tennakoon has not spoken in public after his arrest.
- The old video is being used to spread false information.
- Why False Information Is Bad
- Sharing old or wrong videos confuses people.
- It is important to check facts before sharing news.
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How to Spot False News
- Check the source: Make sure the video comes from a real news website.
- Look for dates: See if the video is recent and matches current events.
- Compare news: Read reports from trusted news sources.
- Think before sharing: Viral posts may not be true.
Conclusion
This shows how dangerous false news can be. Tennakoon is in legal trouble, but using an old video in the wrong way is misleading. Always check information before sharing it online.
What Do You Think?
Have you seen false news before? Share your thoughts in the comments and help others learn about checking facts.