Source: AI Overview

Sri Lankan roots in the Player – Referral system of Cricket (DRS) and an increasing number of sports, involving use of Sri Lankan intellectual property by others without consent, has generated an untapped Revenue Bonanza. Act now and seize this income potential for Sri Lanka

The Decision Review System (DRS), now a cornerstone of modern cricket, has deep, documented roots in Sri Lanka, originating from the “Player Referral” concept proposed by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997. Despite the widespread global adoption of DRS by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its expansion into other sports, Sri Lanka has not received formal recognition or financial compensation for this intellectual property (IP), prompting calls for action.   Although the ICC adopted it in 2009, they did not formally credit Weeraratna, a situation often likened to a “daylight robbery” of intellectual property. 

The Sri Lankan Roots of DRS (Player-Referral System)

Weeraratna’s proposal, originally published as a letter to the editor of The Australian (March 25, 1997) ( titled   “Allow appeals to the Third Umpire), and later in The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) (April 06, 1997), contained the four fundamental pillars of the modern DRS: 

• Player Referral: Allowing dissatisfied players to challenge an on-field umpire’s decision.
• Structured Channels: Routing appeals through the team captain (fielding) or the dismissed batsman.
• Appellate Role: Empowering the third umpire to act as an “appeal court judge” using video replays.
• Limited Reviews: Restricting the number of appeals per innings to prevent time-wasting. 

• Key Elements: The current DRS framework closely mirrors the fundamental elements—player review, captain’s referral, and a third-umpire appellate role—set out in Weeraratna’s original proposal.
• “WDRS” Movement: There is a growing movement, particularly within Sri Lanka, to rename the DRS as the “Weeraratna Decision Review System” (WDRS) or at least formally acknowledge the authorship.
• Initial Testing: The system was first tested in 2008 in a Test match between Sri Lanka and India. 

The Intellectual Property Dispute

Despite these documented origins, the ICC officially launched the system in 2009 without crediting Weeraratna. 

The legal battle centers on two main claims: 

• Copyright Infringement: Weeraratna’s legal team argues he holds both moral and economic copyright for the “Player Referral” concept.
• Constructive Notice: Since the concept was published in major international journals (e.g., The Times of London, Time Magazine) starting in 1997, it is argued that the ICC is legally presumed to have been aware of it years before its formal adoption in 2006.
• ICC Defense: The ICC has previously claimed that its committee members were unaware of Weeraratna’s writings and that by publishing the idea openly without a patent  he waived his right to confidentiality.

Economic and National Implications

Advocates argue that the Government of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must formally intervene to claim this “revenue bonanza” and restore national pride. 

• Global Impact: The “Player Referral” principle has expanded beyond cricket into Goal Line Technology in soccer and Hawk-Eye challenges in tennis.
• Call for Reparative Justice: Supporters are urging the government to pursue “reparative justice” through formal diplomatic or legal channels to secure compensation and naming rights, similar to how the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method recognizes its creators. 

Unrealized Revenue and Intellectual Property Rights
The failure to properly register and defend this intellectual property has resulted in missed revenue opportunities.

• “Daylight Highway Robbery”: Observers have described the ICC’s adoption of the “Player Referral” concept without crediting Weeraratna as “Daylight Highway Robbery,” arguing that if the author were from a Western nation, recognition would have been immediate.
• Failed Legal Challenges: Weeraratna has engaged in a long-standing battle for recognition, including submissions to the ICC. Legal opinions from Sri Lanka have previously noted that while the idea was published openly, the “moral copyright” remains with the originator.
• Need for Action: The Govt. of Sri Lanka and SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket) are being urged to treat this as a “national achievement” (similar to DLS in its naming) and legally pursue recognition for the economic benefit of the country. 
• Call for Action: There are calls for the Sri Lankan government, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and the Minister of Sports to take legal action or formally demand recognition from the ICC for this, described as Sri Lanka’s largest “gift” to modern cricket.

Broader Application in Sports
The “Player Referral” concept (DRS) has transcended cricket, impacting other high-profile sports, including: 

• Soccer: Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems.
• Tennis: Hawk-Eye player challenges.
• Other Fields: The core technology and concept are now integrated into various industries, highlighting the massive, untapped value of the original idea. 

Conclusion
The Sri Lankan origin of DRS is supported by evidence that predates its adoption by over a decade. The ongoing lack of acknowledgment is viewed as a missed opportunity to leverage national intellectual property for financial and diplomatic gain. As a first step, calls have been made for SLC to display a plaque and for the government to champion the recognition of Weeraratna’s authorship. 

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Source: AI Overview