Harshana Thushara Silva
@harshatsilva.bsky.social
Digital Verification Journalist at @afpnews.bsky.social
🗞️ 📰Once a full-time newspaper journalist | Edward R. Murrow Fellow | GerisNet Member | #MeridianMediaFellow
🗞️ 📰Once a full-time newspaper journalist | Edward R. Murrow Fellow | GerisNet Member | #MeridianMediaFellow
"The community notes program alone is simply not adequate when it comes to reducing the impact of harmful falsehoods on social media platforms," said Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network, of which AFP is a signatory.
www.barrons.com/news/meta-te...
www.barrons.com/news/meta-te...
www.barrons.com
September 10, 2026 at 9:52 AM
"The community notes program alone is simply not adequate when it comes to reducing the impact of harmful falsehoods on social media platforms," said Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network, of which AFP is a signatory.
www.barrons.com/news/meta-te...
www.barrons.com/news/meta-te...
The UN said tens of thousands of children needed urgent humanitarian assistance after the Nepal floods in August 2026,
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
September 10, 2026 at 9:49 AM
The UN said tens of thousands of children needed urgent humanitarian assistance after the Nepal floods in August 2026,
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
🌡️ The EU's climate monitor says that August was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also reaching unprecedented highs as western Europe capped its warmest summer. [1/2]
➡️ u.afp.com/SjN6
➡️ u.afp.com/SjN6
September 10, 2026 at 9:40 AM
🌡️ The EU's climate monitor says that August was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also reaching unprecedented highs as western Europe capped its warmest summer. [1/2]
➡️ u.afp.com/SjN6
➡️ u.afp.com/SjN6
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
🇱🇰 ⚖️ A Sri Lankan court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. Jayasundara can appeal against his sentence in the Supreme Court ➡️ u.afp.com/SrtG
July 31, 2026 at 2:52 PM
🇱🇰 ⚖️ A Sri Lankan court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. Jayasundara can appeal against his sentence in the Supreme Court ➡️ u.afp.com/SrtG
🇱🇰 ⚖️ A Sri Lankan court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. Jayasundara can appeal against his sentence in the Supreme Court ➡️ u.afp.com/SrtG
Sri Lanka sentences ex-police chief to death over 2019 bombings
COLOMBO: A Sri Lanka court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara to death on Friday (July 31) for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 fo...
u.afp.com
July 31, 2026 at 3:28 PM
🇱🇰 ⚖️ A Sri Lankan court sentenced former police chief Pujith Jayasundara to death on Friday for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people including 45 foreigners. Jayasundara can appeal against his sentence in the Supreme Court ➡️ u.afp.com/SrtG
After Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pushed back a visit to France slated for July 2026, rumours circulated online that the French government had rejected his request for a visa.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Officials reject false claim that France refused visa for Sri Lankan leader ahead of expected state visit
After Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pushed back a visit to France slated for July 2026, rumours circulated online that the French government had rejected his request for a visa. The Fr...
factcheck.afp.com
July 24, 2026 at 4:17 AM
After Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pushed back a visit to France slated for July 2026, rumours circulated online that the French government had rejected his request for a visa.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Government officials have refuted claims Sri Lanka will incorporate Sharia law into national legislation, contradicting posts that say the move was announced by the country's Muslim deputy minister for religious and cultural affairs. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Baseless claim about changes to Sri Lankan law kindles ethnic, religious tensions
Government officials have refuted claims Sri Lanka will incorporate Sharia law into national legislation, contradicting posts that say the move was announced by the country's Muslim deputy minister fo...
factcheck.afp.com
June 22, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Government officials have refuted claims Sri Lanka will incorporate Sharia law into national legislation, contradicting posts that say the move was announced by the country's Muslim deputy minister for religious and cultural affairs. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Ahead of a major Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, a purported newspaper clipping was shared in posts falsely claiming celebrations had been banned in the country's north. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Sri Lankan posts repeat suspect news article's claims north banned Buddhist festivities
Ahead of a major Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, a purported newspaper clipping was shared in posts falsely claiming celebrations had been banned in the country's north. Both the Northern Province's g...
factcheck.afp.com
May 30, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Ahead of a major Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka, a purported newspaper clipping was shared in posts falsely claiming celebrations had been banned in the country's north. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
After Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a press conference in March 2026 on the country's energy shortage caused by the Middle East war, factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
April 2, 2026 at 3:15 PM
After Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a press conference in March 2026 on the country's energy shortage caused by the Middle East war, factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
After Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a press conference in March 2026 on the country's energy shortage caused by the Middle East war, factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
April 2, 2026 at 3:11 PM
After Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a press conference in March 2026 on the country's energy shortage caused by the Middle East war, factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
AFP’s global team remains hard at work, with the Middle East war dominating our recent coverage. Read more on the misinformation surrounding the conflict here: factcheck.afp.com/list/Iran-0
April 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
AFP’s global team remains hard at work, with the Middle East war dominating our recent coverage. Read more on the misinformation surrounding the conflict here: factcheck.afp.com/list/Iran-0
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
We received international recognition at Global Fact 12, winning the Gold Standard Award for an investigation into South China Sea disinformation networks youtu.be/H1LE7C2QGDw?...
South China Sea conflict spawns false claim clickbait
In the first half of 2024, AFP's fact-checking team in the Philippines noticed a surge in social media posts about the disputed South China Sea.
The posts exaggerated confrontations between China…
youtu.be
April 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
We received international recognition at Global Fact 12, winning the Gold Standard Award for an investigation into South China Sea disinformation networks youtu.be/H1LE7C2QGDw?...
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Happy International Fact-Checking Day!
Check out these highlights from our digital investigation annual report👇
Check out these highlights from our digital investigation annual report👇
April 1, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Happy International Fact-Checking Day!
Check out these highlights from our digital investigation annual report👇
Check out these highlights from our digital investigation annual report👇
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Happy International Fact-Checking Day!
Find all of AFP's investigations at factcheck.afp.com
#FactcheckingDay
Find all of AFP's investigations at factcheck.afp.com
#FactcheckingDay
April 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Happy International Fact-Checking Day!
Find all of AFP's investigations at factcheck.afp.com
#FactcheckingDay
Find all of AFP's investigations at factcheck.afp.com
#FactcheckingDay
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
The strategic landscape of 2025 represented a fundamental shift in the global disinformation paradigm.
Read our full digital investigation report to learn more on how AFP adapted to mounting pressures, including the rapid rise of AI: u.afp.com/Sbhi
Read our full digital investigation report to learn more on how AFP adapted to mounting pressures, including the rapid rise of AI: u.afp.com/Sbhi
April 2, 2026 at 8:21 AM
The strategic landscape of 2025 represented a fundamental shift in the global disinformation paradigm.
Read our full digital investigation report to learn more on how AFP adapted to mounting pressures, including the rapid rise of AI: u.afp.com/Sbhi
Read our full digital investigation report to learn more on how AFP adapted to mounting pressures, including the rapid rise of AI: u.afp.com/Sbhi
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
The strategic landscape of 2025 represented a fundamental shift in the global disinformation paradigm.
Read more in AFP’s 2025 Digital Investigation report u.afp.com/SbXn
Read more in AFP’s 2025 Digital Investigation report u.afp.com/SbXn
April 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
The strategic landscape of 2025 represented a fundamental shift in the global disinformation paradigm.
Read more in AFP’s 2025 Digital Investigation report u.afp.com/SbXn
Read more in AFP’s 2025 Digital Investigation report u.afp.com/SbXn
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Following deadly anti-government protests in Kenya and a crackdown on dissent, we investigated coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting activists on X. Seven hashtags were linked to organised online attacks u.afp.com/SQFK
📷️ TONY KARUMBA
📷️ TONY KARUMBA
April 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Following deadly anti-government protests in Kenya and a crackdown on dissent, we investigated coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting activists on X. Seven hashtags were linked to organised online attacks u.afp.com/SQFK
📷️ TONY KARUMBA
📷️ TONY KARUMBA
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
In Ethiopia, we exposed how weak content moderation is putting users at risk, especially in local languages Amharic, Tigrinya and Afaan Oromoo. Activists faced unchecked harassment and death threats, forcing some into exile u.afp.com/SbXx
April 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
In Ethiopia, we exposed how weak content moderation is putting users at risk, especially in local languages Amharic, Tigrinya and Afaan Oromoo. Activists faced unchecked harassment and death threats, forcing some into exile u.afp.com/SbXx
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
🌍️ From AI-generated visuals and election misinformation to conflict narratives and coordinated online attacks, 2025 exposed how false information is shaping events across Africa. Here's a sample of our top debunks from across the continent for #InternationalFactCheckingDay
April 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
🌍️ From AI-generated visuals and election misinformation to conflict narratives and coordinated online attacks, 2025 exposed how false information is shaping events across Africa. Here's a sample of our top debunks from across the continent for #InternationalFactCheckingDay
Political crises, elections, armed conflicts and extreme weather events sparked waves of misinformation in Asia-Pacific last year.
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
Political crises, elections, armed conflicts and extreme weather events sparked waves of misinformation in Asia-Pacific last year.
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
April 2, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Political crises, elections, armed conflicts and extreme weather events sparked waves of misinformation in Asia-Pacific last year.
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
On International Fact-Checking Day, here are a few highlights of the most harmful claims we debunked in the region 🧵
#FactCheckingDay #FactsMatter
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Sri Lanka reintroduced a system designed to ration fuel purchases as the Middle East war strained supplies, but these posts urging users to sign up for the fuel pass do not share an official website -- the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation confirmed the link is "fake" u.afp.com/SL2p
March 19, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Sri Lanka reintroduced a system designed to ration fuel purchases as the Middle East war strained supplies, but these posts urging users to sign up for the fuel pass do not share an official website -- the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation confirmed the link is "fake" u.afp.com/SL2p
After US President Donald Trump said navy ships would "very soon" start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, decade-old pictures resurfaced in posts claiming they showed American sailors taken hostage by Iran during the ongoing Middle East war. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
March 30, 2026 at 7:53 AM
After US President Donald Trump said navy ships would "very soon" start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, decade-old pictures resurfaced in posts claiming they showed American sailors taken hostage by Iran during the ongoing Middle East war. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Key Middle East energy sites under fire.
Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes. Here is a look at some of the key energy facilities that have been targeted in the US-Israel war with Iran: u.afp.com/SLBA
Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes. Here is a look at some of the key energy facilities that have been targeted in the US-Israel war with Iran: u.afp.com/SLBA
March 19, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Key Middle East energy sites under fire.
Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes. Here is a look at some of the key energy facilities that have been targeted in the US-Israel war with Iran: u.afp.com/SLBA
Qatar's main gas facility has suffered extensive damage after several rounds of Iranian strikes. Here is a look at some of the key energy facilities that have been targeted in the US-Israel war with Iran: u.afp.com/SLBA
Reposted by Harshana Thushara Silva
Trump threatens to "massively blow up" a vast Iranian gas field unless Tehran stops striking Qatar.
Tehran has carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy sites, including Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field
u.afp.com/SLBs
Tehran has carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy sites, including Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field
u.afp.com/SLBs
March 19, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Trump threatens to "massively blow up" a vast Iranian gas field unless Tehran stops striking Qatar.
Tehran has carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy sites, including Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field
u.afp.com/SLBs
Tehran has carried out a series of attacks on Gulf energy sites, including Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field
u.afp.com/SLBs
After an Iranian warship was sunk with a torpedo fired by a US submarine just outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters on March 4, 2026, images of damaged ships circulated in social media posts falsely claiming they showed the navy frigate. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com
March 19, 2026 at 6:19 AM
After an Iranian warship was sunk with a torpedo fired by a US submarine just outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters on March 4, 2026, images of damaged ships circulated in social media posts falsely claiming they showed the navy frigate. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....