Sri Lankan users misled by mocked up news article about 'insulting' Japanese comics

The picture of a purported news article was shared on Facebook here on June 7, 2023.

Its Sinhala-language caption reads, "Just great, they are coming after Ragnarok now".

The caption appears to be referring to the Japanese animation "Record of Ragnarok", which first aired in 2021 and features a fight between mortals and gods (archived link).

Images from "Record of Ragnarok" and "Saint Young Men" -- a 2006 manga later made into several film and television series, about Buddha and Jesus living together on Earth while on holiday from their heavenly duties -- are included in the purported news article (archived links here and here).

The article is headlined, "National organisations warn - A dangerous trend that involves sharing an anime that depicts Buddha in an insulting manner on the rise; be on alert of your children's activities".

The report reads, in part: "The Inspector General of the Police (IGP) was met by Hela Bodu Sena and Colombo Sinhala Buddhist Society to make him aware of the latest trend that is polluting the Sri Lankan youth, which depicts Buddha in an insulting light.

"Shared via animations, these cartoons are suitable only for adults. Speaking to the media, following the meeting with the IGP, Colombo Sinhala Buddhist Society said all those who possess or circulate such material will be charged."

Image

Screenshot of the image shared on Facebook, captured on July 7, 2023

The claim circulated following controversy around Sri Lankan comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya, who local media reported was arrested in May after her stand-up performance was deemed insulting to Buddhism (archived link).

Sri Lankan authorities are known to take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism -- the majority religion on the island of 22 million -- often using a law modelled after an international human rights treaty that promotes freedom of thought and religion (archived link).

The same picture was repeatedly shared alongside similar claims on Facebook here and here.

Comments from some social media users suggest they believed the report was genuine.

One user wrote: "Plenty of other countries ban films if the content insults their majority religion. But in Sri Lanka, we welcome all the drivel. Warnings are not enough, ban it."

"This is what happens when those who are illiterate turn into law enforcement officers," read another comment.

'Fake content'

A closer inspection of the image of the purported news article shows it was created to appear as if it were taken from an edition of a local newspaper.

The top-right of the image has the date June 3, 2023 and the name of Sinhala-language daily Divaina (archived link).

AFP reviewed the e-paper version of the June 3 edition, and found no such article had been published.

Divaina's editor-in-chief Narada Sri Nissanka also told AFP on July 4 that the screenshot was false.

He said: "We have not published such an article."

The purported article is "fake content", he added.

Meanwhile, keyword searches on Google for the two "national organisations" mentioned in the doctored article -- Hela Bodu Sena and Colombo Sinhala Buddhist Society -- did not turn up any corresponding websites or social media profiles in either Sinhala, English or Tamil.

A police spokesperson told AFP on June 29 the claim is false.

"No such organisation met with the IGP and no such issue regarding an animation film has been flagged with us either.

"We have not issued such a warning as well," the spokesperson said.