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The death of Visharada Nanda Malini, the veteran singer honored as the “Nation’s Glory,” moved the government to declare three days of national mourning. Within hours, a post racing across Sinhala feeds claimed that her close associate, Professor Sunil Ariyaratne, had told reporters she died disillusioned with JVP politics and feared her body would be “sold off.” We investigated. Here is what we found.
Social Media Posts
The circulating post claimed that, following Malini’s death, Sunil Ariyaratne told the press: “In her final days, Nanda had grown disillusioned with JVP politics. She even feared her body might be sold off. Her last rites will be carried out strictly according to her will.”
Fact-Check
Sunil Ariyaratne Said the Funeral Would Follow Nanda Malini’s Will, Not Politics
Veteran singer Dr. Nanda Malini, honored with the title “Jathiye Yasoravaya” (Nation’s Glory), passed away yesterday (20th), just two days short of her 83rd birthday. Family sources said she died at her residence in Nawala.
Following her death, Sunil Ariyaratne, a leading Sri Lankan scholar, veteran lyricist, film director, poet and researcher, and a close associate of Malini, spoke to the media about the funeral arrangements. A review of his actual statement shows he made no comments linking her death to politics, contrary to what the viral posts claimed.
He said Nanda Malini had clearly set out her funeral wishes in her will, and that her family would carry out her final rites exactly as specified. In keeping with those wishes, her remains would not be placed at any other public venue. They would lie in state solely at the Nanda Malini Sangeetha Ashramaya on Wijayaba Mawatha, Nawala, where she had lived, for the public to pay their respects.
His statement confirmed she had simply asked for a funeral befitting the humility and simplicity that defined her life, not the political disillusionment or fear described in the viral posts.
The Viral Clip Was Recycled Footage, not a ‘News Center’ Report
The post credited News Center as its source, but our check found no such video on that page. The clip used was in fact footage of Sunil Ariyaratne discussing Nanda Malini’s remains, originally published by other media outlets, in which he makes no mention of politics whatsoever.
Funeral Set for August 22 at Borella as Three Days of National Mourning Begin
Following religious rites at 3:30 PM on Saturday, August 22, Nanda Malini’s remains were to be taken to Borella Public Cemetery, with the cremation set for 5:00 PM without any official ceremony.
The government declared August 21, 22 and 23 as national days of mourning. The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government directed all state institutions to fly the national flag at half-mast throughout the period.
Presidential Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage told the media that arrangements had been made to grant Nanda Malini state honors. However, because the family chose to proceed according to her will, authorities decided to respect that wish and act accordingly.
Also Read: No evidence that Nanda Malini condemned the protest, as claimed in viral posts
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Conclusion
The social media posts claiming that Sunil Ariyaratne told the press “In her final days, Nanda had grown disillusioned with JVP politics. She even feared her body might be sold off” are false. He made no such remarks.
What he did say was true and far simpler: that Nanda Malini’s final rites would follow the instructions in her own will, and that her remains would lie in state at her Nawala music academy for the public to pay their respects. The clip attached to the false claim was unrelated footage of that same statement, in which politics is never mentioned, and was falsely credited to News Center.
Title: A Final Farewell Foretold? What Sunil Ariyaratne Really Said About Nanda Malini’s Funeral
Fact Check By: Pavithra Sandamali
Result: False
