Did President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Recently Visit Thambuttegama For Flood Relief?

A TikTok post carrying an image of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake wading through flood waters is being widely shared on social media with the caption, “The leader has landed in Thambuttegama.”

The same claim is also being shared on Facebook, along with another image, showing the president handing out relief packs to people, suggesting that these were recent images. Such posts can be seen here and here.

Evidence

There are no verified news reports or official statements showing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaging in flood relief work in Thambuttegama.

The original photo was posted on Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official Facebook account on May 20, 2016. The post included several images showing him and members of the JVP’s ‘Red Star’ Relief Services Brigade distributing aid to people affected by the floods in Kaduwela and Hanwella, both located in the Colombo District.

Additionally, the JVP’s official website shared the same set of images on May 21, 2016, with a caption describing the relief activities carried out by party members. The post stated that “The ‘Red Star’ Relief Services Brigade of the JVP continued its community service of visiting and helping the flood affected people yesterday (20th) as well. The Leader of the JVP Comrade Anura Dissanayaka, Comrade Sunil Handunneththi and Comrade Eranga Gunasekera joined comrades of ‘Red Star’ to bring relief to affected people in areas around Kaduwela and Hanwella.”

Context

Sri Lanka is experiencing extreme weather, with heavy rains and strong winds causing flooding and affecting thousands of people. As of October 23, 2025, over 12,000 people from nearly 3,000 families have been affected across 14 districts, with four deaths reported.

Thambuttegama, a place in Anuradhapura District, of North Central Province, is affected by floods as it has been impacted by recent heavy rains, and Thambuttegama is the hometown of the President.

Verdict

The claim that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is currently on the ground helping flood victims in Thambuttegama is false. The images being shared are from 2016, showing him assisting flood victims in Kaduwela and Hanwella, not Thambuttegama. There is no evidence that he has been directly involved in current flood relief efforts.

FAQs

Q1. Did President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently visit Thambuttegama for flood relief?
No. There are no verified reports or photos confirming such a visit in October 2025.

Q2. Where are the viral photos from?
They were taken in 2016 during flood relief efforts in Kaduwela and Hanwella.

Q3. What is the “Red Star (Rathu Tharuwa)” Relief Services Brigade?
The “Red Star” Relief Services Brigade is a community service wing of the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) that provides aid and support to people affected by natural disasters, such as floods, in Sri Lanka. 

Q4. What is the current flood situation?
As of October 23, 2025, over 12,000 people have been affected by floods across 14 districts, including Thambuttegama in Anuradhapura.

Our Sources
Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official Facebook post on May 20, 2016.
JVP’s official website article featuring the same set of images on May 21, 2016.
News report published on The Morning News website on October 23, 2025.
News report published on Ada Derana news website on October 23, 2025.