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The power of fake news - 7th June 2023

Concerns over Sri Lanka's revered Sri Maha Bodhi tree have ignited a social media frenzy. Regarded as the country's most sacred tree among the local Buddhist community, local reports emerged claiming that the tree's leaves were blackening due to 5G radiation. This has put it at grave risk of shedding all its foliage and perishing.

The story went viral on various social media platforms, with Facebook and WhatsApp inundated with memes while a YouTube presenter echoed all the theories. The alarm surrounding the situation was so significant that Pallegama Hemarathana, the head monk of the temple housing the tree, sought the intervention of the president. This highlights the urgency and gravity of the matter.

Pallegama Hemarathana: "I told the president that there is a problem like this. It would be prudent to get the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and botanists from the Peradeniya University to study this and inform the public because they are very concerned."

The president promptly constituted a panel of experts comprising telecommunications engineers and botanists to conduct a comprehensive assessment. Thorough investigation revealed that the alleged impact of 5G radiation on the tree was baseless, as there were no 5G transmitters present in the vicinity.

Nonetheless, the expert panel put forward a recommendation, urging all visitors to refrain from using their mobile phones in the proximity of the revered tree, a pre-existing rule which had been frequently disregarded. The ancient tree, known as the 'Bo' which boasts an age of 2,300 years, is already surrounded by airport style security measures. However, in light of the dissemination of false information, visitors can expect stricter enforcement of these regulations as reiterated by the head monk.

Pallegama Hemarathana: "We never take any decision that will cause harm to the Bodhi tree. Our duty is to protect it."