Actress Samanalee Fonseka has strongly rejected social media posts that circulated using her photograph without consent, accompanied by what she described as “baseless and defamatory claims.”

In a Facebook post, Fonseka clarified that the black Mitsubishi vehicle with state number plates, shown in the widely shared images, does not belong to her nor has it ever been assigned to her by any individual or government institution. She further emphasised that she has never held, nor does she currently hold, any government position.

Fonseka explained that the only vehicle she owns is one purchased through her personal funds, with the remaining payments being settled in instalments under a lease. The photograph in question, she said, was taken without her permission while she was at a café in Nugegoda for a meeting to plan a forthcoming cultural event.

According to her, a friend who holds a government position and had legally been allocated a state vehicle attended the same discussion. The photographs that were later circulated online had been taken of her inside the café and of the state vehicle parked outside, she said.

Fonseka revealed that her friend, the legal custodian of the state vehicle in question, has already lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crimes Division regarding the unauthorised use of the photographs and the false allegations. Her legal team is also preparing to file a complaint with the division on her behalf.

Criticising the spread of such misinformation, Fonseka said these attacks reflect a political culture still rooted in falsehoods and smear campaigns. She added that neither she nor her family has ever misused state funds or property and that she has lived independently without undue privilege.

Concluding her statement, Fonseka issued a sharp rebuke to those behind the smear campaign, saying that corrupt and dishonest politicians cannot escape responsibility for the suffering inflicted on the people by deflecting attention with false allegations. She stressed that the public will ultimately hold such individuals accountable.