The Ministry of Public Security has rejected the circulation of a doctored image falsely attributed to Minister Ananda Wijepala on social media, calling it a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The ministry said the image is being shared alongside fabricated news reports following the arrest of Kehelbaddara Pathme and others, who were detained in Indonesia in connection with organized crime operations in Sri Lanka. The arrests were made through a joint effort between the Sri Lanka Police and Indonesian authorities. The suspects were brought to Sri Lanka on Aug. 30.
A brief ceremony was held at Bandaranaike International Airport to recognize the officers involved in the operation. Minister Wijepala and Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya attended the event and presented commemorative plaques and gifts to Sri Lankan and Indonesian officers.
The ministry confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an inquiry into the creation and distribution of the fake image. Legal action is expected against individuals responsible for producing and publishing it.
The ministry urged all media outlets and social media users to disseminate only accurate and verified information, particularly during sensitive operations involving organized crime and narcotics control. (Newswire)
