PM Office denies Hiru Media report claiming Harini visited Ranil

The Prime Minister’s Office has formally rejected reports claiming that Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya conducted a late-night visit to see former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Colombo National Hospital, according to reports by Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka. The contested story, originally broadcast and published across platforms operated by Hiru Media Network, alleged that the Prime Minister arrived alongside Maithree Wickremesinghe and spent more than two hours at the medical facility where the former president was receiving intensive care treatment after being transferred from Prison Hospital. Official denials from hospital administration, security personnel, and the Prime Minister’s Media Division quickly followed, exposing a widening rift over journalistic accountability and the spread of unverified claims across mainstream and social media networks.

The controversy intensified after Hiru News published a report stating that the Prime Minister had visited Mr Wickremesinghe at the hospital. This claim was rapidly amplified across social media channels. In response to the growing public confusion, Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka reached out to the Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital. The deputy director confirmed that hospital administration and security personnel recorded no such arrival. Furthermore, when hospital leadership visited Mr Wickremesinghe, the former president directly inquired about the rumour and received confirmation that no such visit had taken place.

Media additions

The Prime Minister’s Media Division moved swiftly to counter the narrative, issuing a categorical denial. Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputantri dispatched a formal letter to Hiru Media Network Chairman Reno Silva. The communication condemned the report as completely false and unethical, instructing the network to issue a correction without delay. Despite the rebuke, Hiru News reportedly published subsequent updates focusing solely on the issuance of the official letter rather than retracting the core premise of the original report, maintaining that they relied on internal sources while providing no photographic or video evidence.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from independent commentators and media analysts. According to reports from LankaeNews, critics argue that the publication of the false hospital visit was not an isolated journalistic error but part of a wider pattern of reckless reporting. Commentators have raised questions regarding the oversight of broadcast frequencies and editorial standards within major media institutions, pointing out the potential reputational damage inflicted on national leaders.

Background context from LankaeNews notes that Hiru Media Network has previously faced penalties for serious breaches, including the temporary loss of its broadcasting licence. Critics have accused the network of operating as a megaphone for vested interests, utilizing state-regulated broadcast frequencies for propaganda. Observers have also drawn attention to a gendered dimension in the coverage, suggesting that Dr Amarasuriya faces a double standard as the country's female Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Hiru Media Network secured a series of major honours at the Iconic Awards 2026, winning titles across television, radio, digital media and live entertainment at a ceremony held in Colombo last evening.

What to Watch Next

• Whether Hiru Media Network complies fully with the Prime Minister’s demand for a comprehensive public retraction.
• Potential regulatory actions or policy reviews concerning media standards following criticisms highlighted by LankaeNews.
• Further health updates regarding former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's recovery at the Colombo National Hospital intensive care unit.