President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had been expected to travel to France in mid-July 2026. As that date neared, a post spread across social media claiming France had rejected the President’s visa outright, and had done so over the Negombo Prison deaths, an alleged central bank fraud, a fraudulent passport tender and the farmers’ protest, casting him as the first Sri Lankan president ever refused entry. We checked it against the record and the relevant authorities. Here is what we found.
Social Media Posts
Numerous posts circulated claiming the French government had denied President Dissanayake’s visa, framing him as the first Sri Lankan president to face such a rejection, as shown below.
Fact Check:
Media reports indicated that President Dissanayake was scheduled to visit France, at the official invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Details are available here and here.
The Sri Lankan Government Decided to Postpone the Visit
Media reports made clear that the Sri Lankan government had decided to postpone the visit, citing pressing domestic priorities that required the President to remain in the country. Details are available here and here.
None of those reports said France had rejected the President’s visa, and none cited the prison deaths, a central bank fraud, a passport tender or the farmers’ protest as grounds for any such rejection.
The reports further noted that no firm new date has yet been finalized. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath,...
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