LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation in Sri Lanka. Despite the organization not currently active as a military organization, still there are issues arising with the commemoration of it`s leaders and ex combatants which are illegal as per laws in Sri Lanka.
Social Media Posts
A viral social media post claims that a banner featuring the image of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the banned terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was displayed during a commemoration ceremony held in Sri Lanka. Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka investigated the claim to verify its authenticity.
We decided to do a fact check on this.
Fact Check
The Origin of the Photo
Our investigation traced the photo to the Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre, a Tamil school based in the UK. The banner featuring Prabhakaran was displayed at a commemorative event organized by the Tamil diaspora as part of the annual “Maveerar Day” (Great Heroes’ Day) ceremonies ,on 23rd November this year.News about it can be read here Archived
Photos of the event, including the one in question, were uploaded to the Facebook page of the Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre. The photos clearly indicate that the event took place in the UK and not in Sri Lanka.
Verification of Social Media Posts
We compared the viral image with the photos available on the Facebook page of the Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre and confirmed it was identical. The physical setup and background details in the photo matched those at the event held in the UK.
Statements from Authorities
Addressing Parliament, Ananda Wijepala, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Public Security, confirmed that while commemorations for deceased relatives are allowed in Sri Lanka, events displaying LTTE symbols or signage are strictly prohibited. He stated:
“244 commemoration events were observed in the North. Out of these, only 10 events displayed LTTE signage or symbols, and the Police acted against them.”
This indicates that authorities monitored such events closely to prevent any glorification of the LTTE. The minister’s statement further supports the fact that the viral image was not related to events in Sri Lanka.The related news article can be read here
Legal Context
The LTTE remains a banned organization in Sri Lanka under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and public displays of its symbols or imagery are illegal. Law enforcement authorities take action against any violations.
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Conclusion
The viral claim that a banner featuring Velupillai Prabhakaran was displayed at a commemoration ceremony in Sri Lanka is false. The photo was taken at an event held by the Tamil diaspora in the UK, specifically at the Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre.
While commemorations of deceased relatives are allowed in Sri Lanka, events glorifying the LTTE or displaying its symbols are prohibited, as confirmed by the Minister of Public Security.
Title:Viral Claim on LTTE Leader Commemoration in Sri Lanka with Banner of Prabhakaran
Written By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Misleading
