Fact Check: 2013 video of Buddhist monk immolating himself linked to 2022 Sri Lanka crisis
Amidst the ongoing civil unrest in Sri Lanka, a video of a Buddhist priest setting himself on fire to protest against the Sri Lankan government is circulating on social media.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 May 2022 7:00 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Amidst the ongoing civil unrest in Sri Lanka, a video of a Buddhist priest setting himself on fire to protest against the Sri Lankan government is circulating on social media.
FACT CHECK
NewsMeter searched online using keywords such as "Buddhist monk, suicide, arson" and found an article by Daily Mail from 2013. In May 2013, a Buddhist monk succumbed to injuries after setting himself on fire to protest against the slaughter of cattle in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan police said the incident took place near the famed Temple of Buddha's Tooth Relic in the central town of Kandy. The monk had reportedly told other monks that he was burning himself to protest the killing of cattle for meat. The same was reported by BBC News, The Hindu, and The Times of India.
It is clear that an old incident is being shared against the backdrop of the ongoing civil unrest in Sri Lanka.
