66% of Sinhala news consumers encounter false or misleading information: LIRNEasia study

A recent national survey conducted by LIRNEasia, a regional policy think tank, reveals that over 80% of Sinhala news consumers in Sri Lanka aged 18 and above actively share news with others.

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66% of respondents reported having encountered false or misleading information in the recent past. Out of those who share information and have received false or misleading information, 56% admitted to having shared false information in the past. Interestingly, nearly half of them claim they did so intentionally to inform others that the news was inaccurate. This sharing is done despite.

The survey, which gathered responses from more than 1,700 randomly selected Sinhala news consumers across the country, highlights growing awareness and concern about the spread of false information. Two-thirds of respondents stated that they verify information before sharing. Many turned to family and friends to verify such information, underscoring the critical role of personal networks in building trust and evaluating credibility.