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When the beloved singer Professor Nanda Malini passed away, Sri Lankan social media filled with tributes, and as so often happens here, with political mischief riding alongside the grief. A viral screenshot claimed that Meenu Gunasinghe, a young Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) activist, had dismissed Nanda Malini’s legacy and even linking Namal Rajapaksa. These images travelled fast because it slotted neatly into a familiar political rivalry.
Social Media Posts
The viral posts attributed the following quote to Meenu Gunasinghe: “Nanda Malini did nothing for the country. Namal sir would not even attend the funeral.” The wording was framed as her reaction to the singer’s death and to politician Namal Rajapaksa.
Fact-Check
Meenu Gunasinghe is a well-known young SLPP activist who regularly appears at the party’s press conferences and media events, backing its current political positions and Namal Rajapaksa’s political career. Because of that public profile, a statement like the one in the screenshot would have drawn wide coverage.
Our investigation found no media report, video, or credible record of Gunasinghe saying any such thing about Nanda Malini’s death. A search of the IRI News Facebook page, which the screenshot appeared to imitate, turned up no matching post attributed to her.
Meenu Gunasinghe Denied Making the Statement
When we contacted her directly, Gunasinghe said she had made no such statement. She described Nanda Malini as an artist she deeply respected and admired and called the circulating post malicious propaganda aimed at her. She rejected the fabricated quote in a Facebook statement of her own.
The IRI News Facebook page, whose branding the fake post borrowed, also confirmed that the disputed post did not come from their official account.
The Screenshot Was Doctored From a Real IRI News Post
We traced the image back to a genuine IRI News Facebook post that had reported an actual statement by Gunasinghe. Her real words were: “The day Namal is imprisoned will be the last day of this government’s political journey.” That authentic post was digitally altered to insert the invented remarks about Nanda Malini. Facebook | Archived Link
Placing the fabricated post beside the original makes the manipulation clear.
For context, Namal Rajapaksa himself issued an official condolence message honoring Nanda Malini’s artistic contribution, and scene of MP Namal at the funeral house can be seen here.
X (Twitter) statement | Facebook statement
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Conclusion
The viral posts claiming that SLPP activist Meenu Gunasinghe insulted Nanda Malini and mocked Namal Rajapaksa are fabricated. Gunasinghe told Fact Crescendo that she never made the statement, said she held the singer in high regard, and rejected the post as propaganda targeting her.
The image was built by digitally altering a real ‘IRI News’ post that carried an unrelated political remark by her. IRI News confirmed it did not publish the fabricated version, and Namal Rajapaksa had in fact issued a public tribute to Nanda Malini and even paid his last respects to her. The claim is therefore False.
Title: Viral Meenu Gunasinghe Quote About Nanda Malini Is Fabricated, Not Her Statement
Fact Check By: Pavithra Sandamali
Result: False
