Mistranslated Modi video criticising Sri Lanka's 2022 protests misleads online
- Published on August 14, 2026 at 05:55
- 3 min read
- By Harshana SILVA, AFP Sri Lanka
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not criticise Sri Lanka's 2022 youth-led protests in a video message, contrary to claims circulating in social media posts. In the original vertical format video shared in July, Modi was addressing India's youth amid protests over exam paper leaks, vowing to punish those responsible. The video makes no reference to Sri Lanka or its 2022 youth-led movement, and AFP journalists who reported about Modi's statement confirmed that his message was mistranslated.
"It is evident from the violent situation unfolding that you have taken an example from Sri Lanka's 'Aragalaya' protests," reads part of a Sinhala-language Facebook post, shared on July 24, 2026, along with a video featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (archived here and here).
"While you saw the 'Aragalaya' [struggle] in Sri Lanka, did you see the tragic situation that has followed? O sons and daughters who looked at Sri Lanka's struggle and then fell into a slumber, look at Sri Lanka now. Then, your conscience will no longer allow you to remain in this struggle," the caption reads further.
"Aragalaya" or struggle, was the term used by youth groups in July 2022 to refer to the protest movement that ousted then Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa (archived link).
His mismanagement is blamed for Sri Lanka's plunge into financial turmoil in the years between 2019 and 2024, which has forced its 22 million people to endure shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
Similar claims were shared elsewhere on Facebook after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed protesters, led by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, in a video shared on his official X, Instagram and Facebook accounts on July 23 (archived here, here and here).
He made the clip as thousands of young Indians gathered in Delhi and other cities for more than a month, protesting a series of alleged irregularities in potentially life-changing exams and demanding overhaul reforms in the education system as well as the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan (archived link).
Even after Pradhan's resignation on July 25, Modi's government is still grappling with the fallout -- one of its toughest political challenges in years since the Hindu nationalist party assumed power in 2014.
Comments from some users suggested they believed the Indian prime minister had mentioned Sri Lanka in his video message.
"Yes, even Modi must be baffled seeing how Rajapaksa-Pohottu thieves have gone crazy and flail like madmen, as if a bomb was dropped on an asylum," one user wrote referring to allegations against the once-powerful Rajapaksa family (archived link).
"Now they too feel the fear of it, the risk of such 'aragalaya'. They now sense the real consequences of their own conspiracies," read part of another comment.
But an AFP journalist proficient in Hindi language confirmed that the video was mistranslated, and Modi made no mention of Sri Lanka in his message.
In his video message, Modi vowed "stringent punishment" for anyone involved in leaking exam papers (archived link).
"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," he added.
He also called the leaks a "matter of great pain" for hundreds of thousands of students.
In the late-night selfie video, Modi also talked about tougher anti-paper leak laws and said he had directed departments on July 23 to prepare provisions for fast-track courts to deal with exam-related offences. A draft was received on the same night, he added.
AFP has previously debunked other claims related to the CJP.
Copyright © AFP 2017-2026. Any commercial use of this content requires a subscription. Click here to find out more.
Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.
Contact us
