Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe has sought a formal clarification and correction from a private television channel over the alleged use of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated photograph concerning him during a television discussion programme.

An official letter dated October 15 has been sent to the television channel, requesting an investigation into the authenticity of the photograph displayed by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa during the programme.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Minister’s Office, the photograph displayed and discussed by Weerawansa was not an original selfie taken by Abeysinghe but an image allegedly manipulated using AI technology.

The letter warns that presenting an artificially generated image as an authentic photograph could mislead the public and damage an individual’s reputation.

It further raises concerns that the use of such images during discussions involving sensitive ethnic and religious matters could create misunderstandings and potentially fuel racial or religious tensions.

The Deputy Minister’s Office has also questioned whether the programme’s presenter took adequate steps to verify the authenticity and source of the photograph before allowing it to be discussed on air.

Accordingly, the letter requests the television channel to verify the photograph’s authenticity and source, make necessary corrections to the relevant video, issue a clear public correction through the same programme and provide a written explanation of the action taken.

The statement emphasised that the request was not intended to restrict political expression but to ensure accuracy and responsible media practices.

The latest development follows allegations raised by Deputy Minister Abeysinghe against former Minister Wimal Weerawansa over the use of the photograph during the television discussion.

In an earlier social media post, Abeysinghe shared what he described as the original photograph alongside the allegedly AI-manipulated version.

He claimed that the original photograph showed him with an individual identified as Amal, who had helped protect protesters during an attack by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters during the 2022 Aragalaya protest movement.

According to Abeysinghe, Amal was among a small group of individuals who initially confronted the attackers, and the photograph had been taken in recognition of his actions.

However, the Deputy Minister alleged that the original image had subsequently been manipulated using AI technology to portray Amal as a Buddhist monk.

Abeysinghe criticised Weerawansa for allegedly relying on the manipulated image to make political claims during the television programme.

The Deputy Minister’s Office has called on the television channel to take prompt and responsible action to correct any misleading information and safeguard public trust in the media. (Newswire)

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