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One holy tree, 5G and some fake news - 7th June 2023

Concerns about Sri Lanka's Sri Maha Bodhi tree have been raised on social media. The tree's considered the country's holiest tree by Sri Lanka's Buddhist community. However, a local website reported that 5G radiation was turning the leaves black and that the tree was at great risk of dropping all its leaves and dying.

The story spread like wildfire across social media, with memes circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp and a TV presenter repeating all the theories on his YouTube channel. Such was the concern that Pallegama Hemarathana, the head monk of the temple where the tree is situated, sought assistance from the president.

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 immediately appointed a panel of experts, including telecommunications engineers and botanists to assess the situation. After much investigation, it was established that not only was 5G radiation not impacting the tree, but in fact, the area was free of any 5G transmitters.

The panel of experts did, however, recommend that all visitors stop using their mobile phones in the vicinity of the tree. A rule already in place, but which was frequently ignored. There's already strict airport style security around the 2,300 year old tree known as the 'Bo', but now, thanks to fake news, the rules will be more rigidly enforced. A point stressed 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."

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