The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the Kurunegala–Galagedara Expressway marks the beginning of another important chapter in Sri Lanka’s highway development programme. While politicians gather to celebrate the launch, the real test will be whether the project can be delivered on time, within budget, and without becoming another victim of bureaucratic delays and funding bottlenecks.
The success of this highway will depend not merely on engineering excellence but on effective project execution. The Government should seriously consider appointing a dedicated Resident Project Manager from the Road Development Authority (RDA) with full authority to coordinate the work of multiple contractors, utility agencies, local authorities, environmental regulators, and government institutions.
Sri Lanka has witnessed many infrastructure projects delayed not because of technical failures but because of poor coordination, slow decision-making, and interruptions in cash flow. Construction contractors must maintain large fleets of equipment, employ thousands of workers, and procure massive quantities of construction materials before receiving progress payments. This requires substantial working capital.
Many of the contractors involved may have acquired equipment originally brought into the country by Chinese state-owned enterprises that completed earlier expressway projects. Such assets should now be fully utilised to support local construction capacity. However, equipment alone cannot deliver a highway. Continuous access to construction materials is equally critical.
One immediate concern is the escalating cost of sand. Construction-grade sand has reportedly reached nearly Rs. 30,000 per cubic metre in some areas. If large infrastructure projects absorb available supplies, housing construction could face severe shortages. Authorities should therefore accelerate the development of regulated offshore and sea-sand dredging operations to ensure adequate supply both for highway construction and for ordinary house builders.
The greatest risk, however, remains project financing and cash flow management. Contractors often borrow heavily from banks to bridge the gap between work completed and payments received. If progress payments are delayed, contractors face financial stress, subcontractors remain unpaid, and project schedules begin to slip. Sri Lanka has already witnessed the collapse of major construction companies after prolonged delays in payments and excessive debt accumulation.
Strong governance is therefore essential. Procurement, valuation of work, certification of payments, and release of funds must be transparent and free from undue influence. The public expects highways to be built through professional management, not through personal relationships or informal arrangements.
From my own experience managing major foreign-funded projects, I recall the constant struggle to secure counterpart funding from the Treasury. On many occasions, project managers had to personally engage with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that critical payments were released on time. Without timely funding, even the best-planned project can grind to a halt.
For this reason, the Kurunegala–Galagedara Expressway requires an empowered project leader with direct access to decision-makers at the highest levels of government. Such a person should possess not only technical competence but also the authority to cut through administrative obstacles and resolve issues before they become crises.
The country cannot afford another project plagued by delays, escalating costs, or administrative uncertainty. The foundation stone has now been laid. What Sri Lanka needs next is disciplined execution, financial discipline, and unwavering accountability.
The measure of success will not be the speeches made on the opening day, but whether motorists can drive on the completed expressway on the day originally promised.
MTD Walkers expanded aggressively into roads, piling, power, marine engineering, real estate, and infrastructure projects during a period when large government-funded construction contracts were flowing into the market.
By 2018–2019, the group had accumulated tens of billions of rupees in debt. Several reports alleged that some facilities from state banks were granted with inadequate security and that conflicts of interest existed because individuals connected to the company also held positions connected to state banking institutions.
The Auditor General’s reports later noted that several loan facilities granted to MTD Walkers subsidiaries had become non-performing and that recoverability was doubtful because of weak security positions.
Government Payment Delays
One of the explanations repeatedly given by the company and market analysts was that large sums were tied up as receivables from government projects. When political changes occurred and infrastructure spending slowed or projects were delayed, the company’s cash flow deteriorated rapidly.
Construction companies typically depend on continuous progress payments. When those payments stop, bank loans that financed equipment, salaries, subcontractors, and working capital become difficult to service.
Banks Went to Court
As the financial situation worsened, multiple banks including state and private institutions sought court orders preventing transfers or sales of valuable subsidiary assets. Banks feared that if assets were moved out of the group, loan recovery would become impossible.
Court actions were filed by:
Bank of Ceylon
People’s Bank
Commercial Bank of Ceylon
Other commercial lenders including NDB, DFCC, Sampath and Nations Trust.
Walkers Colombo Shipyard
The shipyard at Mutwal was originally launched with considerable ambition and was intended to become a major marine engineering and ship repair facility.
However, when the parent group entered severe financial distress, the shipyard also became entangled in banking disputes, mortgage issues, and loan defaults. Reports indicate that assets were eventually taken over by lenders after default on significant borrowings.
The closure of the shipyard represented more than a company failure. It meant the loss of skilled marine engineering jobs, repair capability, and foreign exchange earning potential.
Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation Lease Dispute
There were also disputes involving the lease of the Modara/Mutwal fisheries harbour facilities. Reports stated that Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation claimed substantial unpaid lease rentals from Walkers Colombo Shipyard. The issue became politically controversial because questions were raised about whether the company was meeting its obligations while simultaneously obtaining large credit facilities from banks.
Liquidation and Winding-Up
The situation eventually progressed beyond restructuring efforts. Subsidiaries such as Walkers Piling faced winding-up proceedings, and official banking and audit records now refer to MTD Walkers as being under liquidation or winding-up processes.
Broader Lesson
The MTD Walkers collapse is often cited as one of Sri Lanka’s largest corporate failures. It exposed weaknesses in:
State bank credit governance.
Political dependence of large contractors.
Overreliance on government infrastructure spending.
Lending against future project cash flows rather than strong collateral.
Delays in recognizing and resolving non-performing loans.
The result was that contractors, banks, subcontractors, suppliers, debenture holders, and employees were all affected when the cash-flow chain broke down.
The story of MTD Walkers is therefore not only about one company; it is also a case study of how politically linked infrastructure financing, weak credit controls, and abrupt changes in public investment can combine to create systemic financial stress.
The conflict in Ukraine began in February 2014, resulting in significant and far-reaching consequences for the physical and mental well-being of its population. The protracted nature of the war has caused deep psychological scars and emotional distress among individuals and communities, particularly those living in the region’s most severely impacted by the violence. Civilians have faced not only the immediate dangers of armed conflict but also the long-term effects of displacement, loss of loved ones, and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. Additionally, combatants have experienced their own unique challenges, grappling with the psychological toll of warfare.
Armed conflicts are linked to complex traumatic events that can significantly affect mental health (Coventry et al., 2020). These conflicts lead to a range of consequences, including physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual harm (Moreno-Chaparro et al., 2022). They disrupt social structures and have far-reaching economic and cultural effects. Research by Moreno-Chaparro and colleagues (2022) indicates a high prevalence of mental disorders in regions impacted by such violence. Furthermore, as noted by Carpiniello (2023), women and children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of armed conflicts.
The Psychological Impact of the Ukrainian War on Civilians
The civilian population in Ukraine has endured traumatic experiences, including the loss of family members, destruction of homes, and direct violence such as sexual assault and torture. These distressing events have severely impacted their mental health and social relationships, leading to widespread psychological suffering. The ongoing conflict has had a profound effect on the mental well-being of Ukrainians, resulting in various mental health challenges that are both immediate and enduring (Pinchuk et al., 2024).
As noted by Kurapov and colleagues (2025), many individuals are grappling with acute stress responses, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as they confront the daily realities of war, characterized by the persistent threat of violence, displacement, and grief. This situation has transformed the war into a collective trauma for the Ukrainian people, significantly influencing their shared psyche and social cohesion.
War-Related Displacements
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to significant war-related displacements, affecting millions of individuals and families across the nation. As hostilities escalated, many Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes, seeking safety from the violence that engulfed their communities. This mass exodus has resulted in a complex humanitarian crisis, with displaced persons often facing dire conditions in temporary shelters or makeshift accommodations.
A large number of Ukrainians have become refugees across Europe, and one-third of the population has been displaced within Ukraine as internal refugees (Vintilă et al., 2023). Many displaced individuals grapple with the loss of their livelihoods, as they leave behind jobs, schools, and social networks, leading to long-term psychological and economic challenges. Yasenok et al. (2025) argue that forced displacement creates a severe, distinct mental health crisis for Ukrainian refugees. The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty regarding the duration of the conflict, leaving many without a clear path to return home or rebuild their lives.
Children Affected by the War
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had a profound and devastating impact on children, who are among the most vulnerable populations affected by the war. Many children have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their familiar environments, friends, and schools, which has resulted in significant emotional and psychological distress. The disruption of education due to the destruction of schools and the need for children to relocate to safer areas has further exacerbated their situation, leading to a loss of learning opportunities and social connections. Additionally, the trauma of witnessing violence and experiencing displacement can lead to long-term mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Research highlights a significant psychiatric burden among Ukrainian youth, marked by elevated levels of clinical depression, PTSD, and anxiety (Goto et al., 2024). This assessment is supported by a study conducted by Silwal and colleagues in 2026, which corroborates these findings.
The Combatants Affected by War Trauma
The Ukrainian combatants who have experienced the ravages of war trauma embody a complex tapestry of psychological and emotional challenges that stem from their harrowing experiences on the battlefield. Many of these individuals grapple with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which manifests through intrusive memories, heightened anxiety, and emotional numbness, significantly impacting their daily lives and relationships.
Hyland et al. (2026) argue that combat-exposed active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine face an exceptionally high, interconnected psychiatric burden, with 67.4% of sampled soldiers meeting criteria for ICD-11 PTSD or Complex PTSD (CPTSD). The study highlights a 21.5% CPTSD rate and widespread comorbidities, such as depression, emphasizing the need for specialized, systemic mental health care within military rehabilitation settings.
War-Related Mental Health Problems
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to a significant rise in mental health issues among the population, as highlighted by Kurapov and colleagues (2022). Individuals are subjected to a relentless barrage of traumatic experiences and cumulative stressors, which manifest in various psychological challenges.
Research by Osokina and her team (2023) emphasizes the profound psychological impact of war trauma on adolescents residing in these conflict-affected areas, revealing heightened levels of distress. Furthermore, Fel and his colleagues (2022) indicate that women in these regions face an increased vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), underscoring the gendered dimensions of war-related mental health issues.
The psychological toll of such trauma often results in a range of symptoms, including mistrust, social withdrawal, and pervasive feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. In severe cases, individuals may undergo significant personality changes, grappling with conditions such as depression, anxiety, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), and various somatic complaints. The impact of war can also lead to maladaptive coping strategies, including substance abuse and heavy alcohol consumption. Those who exhibit signs of social isolation, suicidal ideation, intense anger, agitation, confusion, dissociation, or psychotic symptoms are in urgent need of professional intervention to address their complex mental health needs.
Addressing the War trauma in Ukraine
The significance of addressing the psychological scars resulting from war trauma in Ukraine cannot be overstated, as these invisible wounds profoundly affect individuals and communities alike. The ongoing conflict has left many individuals grappling with the aftermath of violence, loss, and displacement, leading to a surge in mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Treating these psychological effects is crucial not only for the well-being of the affected individuals but also for the broader societal healing process.
When mental health is prioritized, it fosters resilience, enabling individuals to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities. Furthermore, addressing these psychological scars can help break the cycle of trauma that often perpetuates violence and instability, paving the way for a more peaceful and cohesive society. By investing in mental health resources and support systems, Ukraine can facilitate recovery and promote a sense of hope and normalcy in a landscape still marred by conflict.
The Importance of Providing Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Care
The importance of culturally informed care cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in the healing process for those grappling with the aftermath of trauma (Sue et al., 2009). Therefore, culturally attuned mental health care is vital for addressing the psychological scars left by the war in Ukraine. Such an approach recognizes and responds to the distinct emotional and psychological needs of those impacted by the conflict. By appreciating the cultural backdrop of these individuals, mental health practitioners can customize their methods, ensuring that the interventions are not only effective but also considerate of the patients’ cultural identities, beliefs, and values. This sensitivity is essential for building strong therapeutic alliances, which in turn enhances the likelihood of successful treatment outcomes.
Creating a Sense of Safety
In conflict scenarios, establishing a sense of safety is crucial (Hobfoll et al. 2007). Almoshmosh et al. (2016) emphasize the significance of social connections in facilitating the restoration of normal interactions and overall well-being. Additionally, community solidarity initiatives can mitigate the adverse effects of war-related trauma (Anjum et al., 2023). Offering hope to victims of war not only alleviates emotional distress but also fosters self-efficacy, resilience, personal development, and mental health (Snyder, 2002).
Psychotherapeutic Interventions
The demand for psychotherapeutic support for war victims in Ukraine has become increasingly urgent due to the profound psychological trauma inflicted by the ongoing conflict. Various therapeutic approaches, including CBT – cognitive-behavioural therapy (Pfeiffer et al. 2025), EMDR – eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (Palen et al., 2025) and group therapy are employed to assist individuals in processing their traumatic experiences and developing effective coping mechanisms.
Mental health professionals aim to cultivate supportive environments where victims can freely express their emotions, share their stories, and connect with others who have endured similar hardships. Additionally, community-based initiatives are often implemented to strengthen resilience and establish support networks, enabling individuals to rebuild their lives amidst chaos. The integration of culturally sensitive practices is crucial, as it acknowledges Ukraine’s distinct historical and social context, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
These interventions seek not only to alleviate immediate psychological distress but also to promote long-term healing and recovery for those affected by the war. Furthermore, emotion-focused coping strategies, as highlighted by Lazarus and Folkman, are essential in managing negative emotions such as anxiety, while existential therapy addresses the deeper impacts of trauma on meaning, mortality, and identity. Therapists may also incorporate mindfulness techniques to improve recovery outcomes following war-related trauma.
Conclusion
The victims of the war in Ukraine, encompassing civilians, children, and combatants, are enduring significant psychological distress and emotional turmoil. This suffering stems from various traumatic experiences, including forced displacements, witnessing horrific acts of violence, and direct exposure to combat situations. The psychological impact of these experiences can leave deep, lasting scars that often require extensive time and support to heal.
The effects of trauma are not confined to the individuals who experience it; they can also be transmitted across generations, affecting the mental health and well-being of future descendants. Consequently, it is essential to implement culturally sensitive approaches to trauma healing and resilience-building for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Such initiatives are vital not only for individual recovery but also for fostering a healthier, more resilient community in the long term.
References
Almoshmosh N. (2016). The role of war trauma survivors in managing their own mental conditions, Syria civil war as an example. Avicenna j. med. 6, 54–59. doi: 10.4103/2231-0770.179554, PMID.
Anjum G, Aziz M, Hamid HK. Life and mental health in limbo of the Ukraine war: How can helpers assist civilians, asylum seekers and refugees affected by the war? Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 17;14:1129299. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1129299. PMID: 36874809; PMCID: PMC9983366.
Carpiniello B. The Mental Health Costs of Armed Conflicts-A Review of Systematic Reviews Conducted on Refugees, Asylum-Seekers and People Living in War Zones. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 6;20(4):2840. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042840. PMID: 36833537; PMCID: PMC9957523.
Coventry PA, Meader N, Melton H, Temple M, Dale H, Wright K, Cloitre M, Karatzias T, Bisson J, Roberts NP, Brown JVE, Barbui C, Churchill R, Lovell K, McMillan D, Gilbody S. Psychological and pharmacological interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid mental health problems following complex traumatic events: Systematic review and component network meta-analysis. PLoS Med. 2020 Aug 19;17(8):e1003262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003262. PMID: 32813696; PMCID: PMC7446790.
Fel S., Jurek K., Lenart-Kłoś K. (2022). Relationship between socio-demographic factors and posttraumatic stress disorder: a cross-sectional study among civilian participants’ hostilities in Ukraine. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 19:2720. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052720, PMID.
Goto, R., Pinchuk, I., Kolodezhny, O., & Leventhal, B. L. (2024). Mental health of adolescents exposed to the war in Ukraine. JAMA Pediatrics, 178(5), 480–488. doi.org.
Hobfoll S. E., Watson P., Bell C. C., Bryant R., Brymer M. J., Friedman M. J., et al. (2007). Five essential elements of immediate and mid-term mass trauma intervention: empirical evidence. Psychiatry 70, 283–315. doi: 10.1521/psyc.2007.70.4.283, PMID.
Hyland, P., Shevlin, M., Karatzias, T., Bondjers, K., Scherbakova, A., Sulaieva, O., Bibikova, A., Dudin, O., Savchenko, A., Voznitsyna, K., Dosenko, V., & Martsenkovskyi, D. (2026). Clinician assessed rates of PTSD and Complex PTSD in a medical‐rehabilitation sample of active‐duty military personnel in the armed forces of Ukraine. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 153(2), 133–139. doi.org
Kurapov A., Pavlenko V., Drozdov A., Bezliudna V., Reznik A., Isralowitz R. (2022). Toward an understanding of the Russian-Ukrainian war impact on university students and personnel. J. Loss Trauma. 28, 167–174. 10.1080/15325024.2022.2084838.
Kurapov, A., Pavlenko, V., Drozdov, A., & Haletska, I. (2025). Mental health of the civilians in war conditions. Journal of Risk Research, 28(2), 145–158. doi.org
Lazarus R., Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company; New York, NY, USA: 1984.
Moreno-Chaparro J, Piñeros-Ortiz S, Rodríguez-Ramírez L, Urrego-Mendoza Z, Garzón-Orjuela N, Eslava-Schmalbach J. Mental health consequences of armed conflicts in adults: an overview. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2022 Mar;50(2):68-91. Epub 2022 Mar 1. PMID: 35312994; PMCID: PMC10803861.
Osokina O, Silwal S, Bohdanova T, Hodes M, Sourander A, Skokauskas N. Impact of the Russian Invasion on Mental Health of Adolescents in Ukraine. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023 Mar;62(3):335-343. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.07.845. Epub 2022 Oct 29. PMID: 36441074.
Palen, C., Zaporozhets, O., Compton, L., & Luber, M. (2025). Early intervention for clinicians in war zones. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 19, Article 0012. doi.org.
Pfeiffer, E., Garbade, M., Beer, R., Birgersson, A., Cabrera, N., Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., Ditrich, I., El-Haj-Mohamad, R., Galkina, A., Kasiarum, S., Khaustova, O., Klymchuk, V., Romanova, I., Rosner, R., Ruf-Leuschner, M., Sachs, I., Sachser, C., de Schipper, E., . . . TF-CBT Ukraine Consortium. (2025). Evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children and youth in Ukraine during the war. European Psychiatry, 68(1), Article e96. doi.org.
Pinchuk, I., Skokauskas, N., & Leventhal, B. (2024). The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on mental health in Ukraine. The Lancet Psychiatry, 11(11), 890–901. doi.org.
Silwal, S., Thapa, S., Shrestha, A., Pinchuk, I., Leventhal, B. L., Skokauskas, N., & Sourander, A. (2026). Mental health of Ukrainian children and youth during the Russian-Ukrainian war: A scoping review. BMJ Global Health, 11(3), Article e020506. doi.org.
Snyder C. R. (2002). Hope theory: rainbows in the mind. Psychol. Inq. 13, 249–275. doi: 10.1207/S15327965PLI1304_01.
Sue, S., Zane, N., Nagayama Hall, G. C., & Berger, L. K. (2009). The case for cultural competency in psychotherapeutic interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 525–548. doi.org.
Vintilă M, Kalaitzaki A, Turliuc MN, Goian C, Tudorel OI. Editorial: The war in Ukraine: impact on mental health on a global level. Front Psychol. 2023 Jul 25;14:1226184. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1226184. PMID: 37564318; PMCID: PMC10409641.
Yasenok, V., Pinchuk, I., Skokauskas, N., von Wyl, A., & von Kaenel, R. (2025). Mental health burden of persons living in Ukraine and Ukrainians displaced to Switzerland: The mental health assessment of the Ukrainian population (MAP) studies. BMJ Global Health, 10(8), Article e019557.
In appreciation of Sir Iftikhar Ayaz’s Humanitarian service he has been awarded the Queen’s medal for Humanitarian Service. This Medal was approved by Her Majesty in 2020 especially for her Realms. Sir Iftikhar Ayaz has been dedicatedly serving Humanity for decades. He received almost 40 award’s.
Dr. Iftikhar Ayaz O.B.E (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) has been awarded a K.B.E (Knight Commander of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to the South Pacific and humanity.
Sir Iftikhar Ayaz has been the envoy of Tuvalu Islands since 1996 and has made valuable contributions to the prestige, progress and development of Tuvalu in the international domain.
Prior to his appointment as the envoy of Tuvalu, Sir Iftikhar Ayaz served Tuvalu as a field expert of the Commonwealth. He served as an advisor on education and was able to plan and introduce an innovative program of education for the subsistence communities which became very popular and effective to provide vocational and skill based education to the Island communities. He later worked in the South Pacific Region as a Consultant with UNDP and was designated as the South Pacific delegate to UNESCO.
His innovative education scheme known as EFL (Education for Life) was highly recognised by the Commonwealth and he received an O.B.E (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1998.
Sir Iftikhar Ayaz has been an ardent advocate of human rights and is associated with several regional and international human rights organisations including the UNHRC. He has been a member of the UN working group for the rights of minorities.
Sir Iftikhar Ayaz is also the Chairman of the International Human Rights Committee and at present is actively involved in working for the well-being and welfare of the displaced refugees and asylum seekers.
Sir Iftikhar Ayaz is also the Director of the World Media Forum and associated with a number of organisations serving the cause of inter-faith solidarity, conflict resolution and peace. He has addressed several peace Symposium including Sri Lanka and seminars related to human rights and climate change. As mentioned Sir Iftikhar Ayaz is recipient of a number of awards from various Institutions and Organizations including USA, Europe and Asia. He received the Alfred Noble Medal, Ambassador of Peace, Ambassador of Knowledge, Man of the Year, Genius Laureate for Human Development, Outstanding Professional Award, International Peace Prize, Life Achievement Award and Diplomate of the Cambridge Blue Book.
Sir Iftikhar Ayaz holds doctorates in Human Development and Education and a Master’s degree in Linguistics Sir Iftikhar Ayaz has also been awarded the World Freedom Medal and is an eminent member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam.
Recently he was awarded Prestigious Royal Title, The CMG
Jonathan Hall, Counsel for ICC has given flawed legal advice on authorship of Player Referral (DRS) claiming that it was the work of an unnamed and undisclosed employee of ICC or a contractor but not the work of Senaka Weeraratna. This is a ridiculous claim making ICC the laughing stock of the Cricket world.
AI Overview
The ongoing dispute over the authorship of cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS) centers on the argument that the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s legal defense relies on flawed reasoning. The core of the matter is the official stance taken by former ICC Head of Legal David Becker in 2010 and reinforced by current General Counsel Jonathan Hall in January 2023. [1, 2]
They assert that the ICC was entirely unaware of Senaka Weeraratna’s work and that the final system was authored by an internal employee or contractor rather than the Sri Lankan lawyer. Legal critics and advocates for Weeraratna argue that this advice is profoundly flawed on two primary legal fronts. [, 2]
The Core Arguments Against the ICC’s Legal Advice
Violation of Constructive Notice: Critics point out that Hall and Becker completely ignored the Doctrine of Constructive Notice. Because Weeraratna widely published his unique four-pillar “Player Referral” framework in leading global newspapers—including The Australian in March 1997—nine years before the ICC developed the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in 2006, the ICC is legally deemed to have had access to this public knowledge.
The “Composer vs. Song” Paradox: The ICC maintains that because it built the technological system using contractors, the concept belongs to the organization. However, intellectual property advocates argue that while third-party contractors engineered the physical software, Weeraratna designed the original legal and structural architecture—transferring the right of appeal from the absolute authority of the umpire to the players.
Misconception of Public Domain: The ICC’s legal team historically argued that by openly publishing his ideas in newspapers without an active patent, Weeraratna “waived confidentiality”. Legal experts counter that public exposure does not strip an inventor of their moral copyright and rights of attribution, especially when the core elements match exactly. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10]
A Comparison of the Frameworks
The fundamental similarity between the two systems underpins the claim that the employee-led system was not an original invention: [1]
To challenge this legal stance, several avenues are being proposed by legal scholars and cricket historians to secure Weeraratna due credit: [1, 2]
Escalation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS): Both parties could bypass domestic courts and mutually submit the timeline dispute to the CAS in Lausanne, where Jonathan Hall himself serves as an arbitrator.
State-Backed Moral Rights Lawsuit: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) or the government could back a lawsuit specifically targeting the violation of moral rights and failure of attribution, demanding the system be renamed the “Weeraratna Decision Review System” (WDRS).
Public Diplomacy Campaigns: Highlighting the double standard wherein the ICC openly honors English mathematicians via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, but leaves the non-white, South Asian creator of the DRS uncredited. [1, 4, 5, 6]
White lawyers of ICC some born and bred in Apartheid South Africa e.g.David Becker, and English lawyers Jonathan Hall and Sally Clark, are walking on thin ice because their conduct ostensibly disguised as legal advice ( misconceived in law by ignoring fundamental principles of law i.e., Doctrine of Constructive Notice) are pushing boundaries in ICC administered Cricket. Cricket is the new religion in South Asia because it is uniting people everywhere in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and the like. We must not allow people with a colonial hangover holding high office in ICC run Cricket to ‘ Divide and Rule’.
If you would like to explore this further, I can outline the historical timeline of Weeraratna’s 1997 international press publications to demonstrate how his concept predated the ICC’s development committee.
If ICC lawyers have blundered giving sub – standard flawed legal advice on the origins of Player – Referral leading to loss of confidence in the competence and advice of its legal team, what are the remedies available to improve ICC’s image including taking stern action against the lawyers guilty of Professional Negligence?
If the International Cricket Council (ICC) legal team provided flawed advice regarding the origins of the Player-Referral / Decision Review System (DRS), the ICC can restore its institutional integrity by issuing formal recognition to the true architect of the concept, and pursue remedies against the lawyers involved through professional negligence claims and bar association complaints. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
1. Remedies for the Original Inventor
The core dispute centers on Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna, who publicly proposed the Player Referral” concept in 1997. The ICC’s legal team historically advised that the ICC was unaware of his prior work and that he waived his rights by publishing the idea openly. This advice has been widely criticized for ignoring the Doctrine of Constructive Notice, which establishes that an organization is legally presumed to know of information widely publicized in mainstream media for years before its formal adoption of a system. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
To address this, available remedies include:
Formal Attribution and Apology: The ICC can formally acknowledge Mr. Weeraratna as the original architect of the Player Referral” concept, mirroring how the ICC recognizes other cricketing innovations like the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Third-Party Arbitration: Both parties can submit the intellectual property dispute to independent sports arbitration to reach a fair settlement or grant Mr. Weeraratna moral and economic recognition.
Mediation: The ICC can engage in good-faith mediation aligned with its own Spirit of Cricket” charter to bypass strict, restrictive legal technicalities and arrive at a just conclusion. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
2. Stern Action Against Guilty Lawyers
If the ICC’s former legal team, including former Head of Legal David Becker, provided advice that is now viewed as fundamentally misconceived in law, the ICC has multiple avenues to hold its counsel accountable for professional negligence: [1, 2, 3, 4]
Professional Negligence Lawsuit: The ICC can initiate a claim for legal or professional malpractice. To succeed, the ICC must prove that the lawyers owed a duty of care, breached that duty by failing to act with the competence of a reasonably skilled international sports law expert, and that this breach caused significant reputational or financial damages to the council.
Bar Association and Disciplinary Complaints: The ICC (or related aggrieved parties) can file formal complaints with the respective regulatory bodies governing the attorneys (e.g., the Legal Practice Council in South Africa) regarding unethical conduct, conflicts of interest, or gross incompetence in drafting legal opinions.
Indemnity Claims: The ICC can seek compensation for the negligent advice by making a claim directly against the lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Insurance, recovering damages resulting from the flawed counsel. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
To repair its global reputation and moral authority, the ICC must distance itself from the flawed strategies of its past legal advisors: [, 2]
Conduct an Independent Internal Review: Appoint an independent panel to audit the legal advice previously provided on the DRS authorship and release the findings to rebuild trust with member nations.
Overhaul the Internal Legal Framework: Replace or restructure the legal team responsible for the oversight, ensuring future legal counsels are specialized in global intellectual property and sports law.
Align with the “Spirit of Cricket”: Ensure institutional actions are guided by the “Spirit of Cricket”—fairness, integrity, and ethical conduct—rather than solely relying on legal technicalities like the absence of a registered patent to bypass the contributions of original creators. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7]
The immediate remedies available to the International Cricket Council (ICC) involve structural governance changes, external independent audits, and formal legal or disciplinary action against the responsible legal counsel.
Immediate Image Repair
Appoint External Counsel: Retain a top-tier independent law firm to review the flawed advice immediately.
Issue Transparent Statements: Publish a clear, factual acknowledgment of the oversight without compromising legal privilege.
Launch Independent Review: Commission an external governance audit of the ICC’s internal legal clearance processes.
Engage Stakeholders Directly: Host private briefings with member boards to explain rectification steps and rebuild trust.
Accountability and Stern Actions
Terminate Internal Staff: Dismiss internal legal team members under standard employment law for gross incompetence or failure of duty.
File Professional Malpractice Suits: Sue external legal advisors or firms for professional negligence to recover financial losses.
Report to Bar Associations: File formal complaints with the relevant regulatory bar associations to initiate disciplinary hearings.
Enforce Indemnity Clauses: Activate professional indemnity insurance policies to recoup damages caused by the faulty advice. [1, 2]
Long-Term Institutional Reform
Restructure Legal Governance: Establish a Legal Risk Committee reporting directly to the ICC Board rather than management.
Implement Peer Review: Require a “four-eyes” principle where major legal opinions must be peer-reviewed by an independent second firm.
Update Compliance Frameworks: Revamp internal standard operating procedures for vetting regulatory and policy changes like Player-Referrals. [1]
The entire Channel 4 conspiracy narrative surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks rests fundamentally on one alleged event — a purported February 2018 meeting between Suresh Sallay and Zaharan Hashim.
If that meeting cannot be independently verified through objective evidence, then every subsequent allegation built upon it rests primarily on delayed recollection rather than independently established fact.
Given the gravity of the accusations — including allegations of state complicity in terrorism and mass murder — the evidentiary threshold required must necessarily be exceptionally high.
THE ALLEGED FEBRUARY 2018 MEETING QUESTIONS RELATING TO ACTION TAKEN BY AUTHORITIES ON ASAD MAULANA’S CLAIMS
What was the action taken by authorities when Asad Maulana made the initial allegation in September 2023
Can authorities corroborate Maulana’s claims with below evidence to justify Presidential Detention Order/ Extension and CID arrest?
The following questions therefore arise.
VERIFICATION OF SURESH SALLAY’S PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA
Yes or No
Was Sallay officially on a diplomatic assignment overseas in February 2018
Is there immigration records proving Sallay entered Sri Lanka during February 2018
Are there passport records confirming travel and travel agent details issuing ticket to travel
Are there airline manifests confirming arrival & departure / boarding pass etc
Are there record of official leave requested to travel to Sri Lanka
Are there record of official leave granted to travel to Sri Lanka
Are there airport CCTV records confirming arrival/departure
Did immigration systems record entry under diplomatic clearance
VERIFICATION OF COMMUNICATIONS
Yes or No
Are there call records between Sallay and Maulana across during the relevant period either in Sri Lanka or from overseas?
Are there encrypted messaging records between alleged participants?
Are there WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or SMS records supporting the allegations?
Were communication devices forensically examined?
Were deleted communications recovered?
Were international roaming records examined?
Were metadata records independently verified?
Has any telecom provider authenticated the alleged Easter Sunday call?
Has any judicial or forensic authority independently authenticated these communications?
Are there intercepted intelligence communications or surveillance transcripts produced to support the allegations?
VERIFICATION OF THE ALLEGED MEETING LOCATION
Yes or No
Did the alleged meeting venue physically exist in February 2018
Are there municipality approvals / construction records to confirm house existed in February 2018
Does satellite imagery confirm structure existed during the relevant period
Does the caretaker or nearby residents confirm such a meeting
Are there neighboring properties with witnesses who saw unusual visitors as training was also conducted at this estate
Was the alleged estate under surveillance by any state authority at the time
Did any local police station record any unusual movements at this venue?
Were fingerprints / DNA collected from the alleged venue
VERIFICATION OF OWNERSHIP OF ESTATE
Who legally owned the Karadipuval coconut estate in February 2018?
Are there land registry records confirming ownership?
Who was residing at or managing the estate during the relevant period?
Did the owner or caretaker confirm the alleged meeting took place?
Was the estate leased, rented, or informally occupied by any person linked to NTJ or Zaharan?
Were payments made for use of the property and can these be traced?
Did investigators record statements from the owner, caretaker, laborers, or neighboring residents?
Was the owner questioned regarding unusual visitors, vehicles, or activities?
Did authorities establish who had access to the estate at the relevant time?
Were any links established between the estate owner and alleged participants?
Was the estate previously known to intelligence or law enforcement agencies?
If the estate later became linked to explosives or training activities, when exactly did such activities begin?
Is there evidence the estate was being used for militant activity as early as February 2018?
Were utility records (electricity, water, phone usage) examined to determine occupancy during the relevant period?
Were there any financial or property transactions connected to the estate before or after the attacks?
If the ownership, occupancy, operational use, and physical existence of the alleged meeting venue itself cannot be independently established, the credibility of the alleged February 2018 meeting becomes fundamentally weakened.
VERIFICATION OF MAULANA’S ARRIVAL AT THE ESTATE
Yes or No
Has Maulana provided any evidence showing he travelled to the estate on the alleged date?
What mode of transport did Maulana allegedly use to reach the estate?
Did he travel alone or with others?
Are there fuel receipts, toll records, transport tickets, or travel logs supporting his journey?
Is there mobile phone location data placing Maulana at the estate?
Are there telecom tower records confirming his device presence in the area?
Were Maulana’s devices forensically examined to verify his movements?
Did Maulana communicate with Pillayan, Zaharan, or Sallay immediately before or after the alleged meeting?
Are there call records or message logs supporting coordination of the alleged meeting?
Are there independent witnesses confirming Maulana arrived at the estate?
Did Maulana inform anyone that he was attending such a meeting?
Was Maulana’s financial activity during the relevant period examined for travel-related expenditure?
Did investigators reconstruct Maulana’s movements for the alleged date?
If no objective evidence exists placing Maulana at the estate, upon what basis is the allegation being treated as credible?
Did investigators reconstruct Maulana’s movements for the alleged date?
Did Maulana provide investigators with the precise date, time, route, and duration of the alleged journey?
If even Maulana’s own presence at the alleged meeting cannot be independently established through objective evidence, the foundation of the entire allegation becomes increasingly dependent upon unverified retrospective narration rather than corroborated fact.
VERIFICATION OF SALLAY’S PRESENCE AT THE ESTATE
Yes or No
Is there mobile phone location data placing Sallay at the alleged estate
Are there telecom tower records confirming device presence in the area
Is there GPS, vehicle tracking/security log evidence placing him there
Were mobile devices belonging to alleged participants active in the area
Was any forensic examination conducted on devices allegedly linked to participants & Asad Maulana
VERIFICATION OF ZAHARAN’S ALLEGED PRESENCE
Yes or No
Where was Zaharan allegedly hiding in February 2018?
Do intelligence or police records place Zaharan in Puttalam during the relevant dates?
Are there witnesses confirming Zaharan attended?
If Zaharan was a wanted fugitive how did Maulana allegedly maintain direct access to him to arrange presumed meeting?
Have authorities examined how Asad Maulana was able to reach Zaharan who was on the run from authorities due to open arrest warrant since 2017
Were Maulana’s communication with Zaharan independently established to arrange meeting?
If Zaharan was a wanted fugitive since 2017, how did he allegedly travel to and from the estate without detection?
The credibility of the alleged meeting depends not only on proving Sallay’s presence, but also on independently establishing Zaharan’s whereabouts, movements, and ability to secretly travel to the alleged estate while being a wanted fugitive under active investigation.
VERIFICATION OF THE ALLEGED MEETING ITSELF
Yes or No
Is there any photographic, video, audio evidence of the Feb 2018 meeting?
If the meeting lasted 3 hours – were food supplies arranged & can it be corroborated.
Can any individual independently confirm Maulana arranged the meeting?
If he arranged the meeting but was asked to wait outside – how does he know what went on inside the meeting.
Asad Maulana claimed it was Pillayan who had suggested arranging meeting with Zaharan & Sallay & the objective of that meeting. If he know the objective, why was Maulana kept outside.
If Maulana claims the objective was known by him, why would he claim Suresh Sallay told him what the plan was after the meeting?
What proof does Maulana have to claim Sallay told him what went on inside when he was not part of the meeting & why would Sallay a top intel officer disclose what was discussed in secret?
In October 2021, Fr. Cyril claimed over a zoom that Zaharan & Sallay knew each other and that they had evidence. This allegation became a defamation case filed by Sallay. If Fr. Cyril claims Zaharan & Sallay knew each other – why would he need Maulana to arrange a meeting.
Why would an alleged covert state conspiracy involving mass murder require the physical presence of a senior intelligence official at a remote estate meeting personally exposing himself to operational risk?
QUESTIONS RELATING TO MAULANA’S ACCOUNT
Yes or No
If in 2018 Maulana knew about a plan to attack innocent people – what did he do about it?
Did Maulana report the alleged meeting to an authority before April 2019, given that Sallay was holding any position in military or intelligence and the yahapalana govt was in power?
Did Maulana report to the authorities immediately after the attacks in April 2019 about the Feb2018 meeting & the supposed plan?
Did Maulana make a sworn affidavit immediately after the attacks about what he knew
Did Maulana even anonymously inform authorities after the attacks?
Why did Maulana not come forward to testify before any earlier investigate body/commission given he fled Sri Lanka only in January 2022?
Did Maulana disclose this alleged meeting to anyone prior to Sept 2023 if so whom & can they confirm and face cross-examination?
Has Maulana maintained notes, messages, emails or sms about the meeting or the plans presumably discussed with Pillayan?
Did law enforcement investigate Maulana’s own role as facilitator or intermediary to the attacks?
The Channel 4 documentary was taken up by the Justice Imam committee –did they link Suresh Sallay with the attacks
Does any evidence exist beyond Maulana’s delayed recollection years later?
Why did Maulana wait until after leaving Sri Lanka and seeking asylum abroad before making these allegations publicly?
Has any financial trail been established?”
bank transfers
cash withdrawals
asset movements
covert payments
intelligence funds
travel reimbursements
shell companies
unexplained cash movements
third-party intermediaries
Because every conspiracy allegation eventually requires financial infrastructure.
Commentary
Asad Maulana is
The single and only source
Claiming a mastermind” theory alongside political pawn” theory regarding Easter Sunday attacks.
This only single source is attributing allegation against former State Intelligence Service Head retired Suresh Sallay
The allegations against retired State Intelligence Service Head Suresh Sallay presently appear to rely substantially upon claims made by a single witness to a foreign media outlet in September 2023, approximately five years after the alleged meeting and four years after the Easter Sunday attacks by one who is unwilling to come & place the evidence for his claims before Courts.
The purpose of these questions is not to prevent investigation, but to determine whether the allegations can be independently substantiated through objective evidence rather than retrospective assertion.
The alleged February 2018 meeting forms the foundation of the broader conspiracy narrative presented in the documentary.
If the meeting itself cannot be independently verified through objective evidence, then every subsequent allegation built upon it remains dependent primarily on a single person’s retrospective witness claims rather than established fact.
The seriousness of the allegation requires a correspondingly high evidentiary threshold and corroborating evidence. Assertions involving terrorism, state complicity, and mass casualty events cannot reasonably rest on delayed recollection alone without independent corroboration through records, witnesses, forensic verification, and documentation.
The documentary presents an internal contradiction by simultaneously portraying Suresh Sallay as both:
the alleged mastermind orchestrating events from behind the scenes, and • the operational intermediary personally handling meetings, communications, logistics, and coordination.
The documentary appears to begin with a predetermined political conclusion and then selectively assembles witness testimony, anonymous claims, visual framing, and narrative interpretation to reinforce that conclusion.
Rather than allowing independently verified evidence to lead viewers toward an objective finding, the presentation repeatedly guides the audience toward the presumption of Suresh Sallay’s guilt before the allegations themselves are subjected to judicial scrutiny, cross-examination, or forensic verification.
Media is not a Court of Law – Media trials and vilifications are not valid though they influence public perception.
The Courts are better placed to assess facts and evidence as well as cross examine those making allegations.
The issue at hand is – Asad Maulana while making serious allegations is not willing to appear and make the claims before a Court of law.
Questions must always be asked, particularly in relation to a national tragedy of this magnitude.
The issue is whether allegations of state complicity in mass murder can responsibly be transformed into public conclusions without independently verified evidence capable of surviving judicial scrutiny.
If the alleged February 2018 meeting cannot be objectively established,
if the alleged communications cannot be authenticated,
if the alleged conspiracy leaves no documentary, forensic, digital, financial, or operational trail,
then the entire narrative remains dependent primarily upon delayed recollection and interpretive inference of a single person unwilling to appear before courts, rather than proven fact.
A serious allegation does not become a proven fact merely through repetition across media platforms and the vilification of the alleged individual by social media platforms. In essence, such tactics are used when there is insufficient evidence!
Those relentlessly portraying Suresh Sallay as guilty across media and social media platforms should also be asked a simple question: do they possess the above evidence to justify such certainty of guilt, or is public condemnation being orchestrated first to replace lack of evidence?
In matters involving terrorism, reputations, institutions, and criminal liability, allegations alone cannot substitute for evidence.
In any society governed by law, the burden remains on those making the accusation to prove the allegation through independently verifiable evidence — not on the accused to disprove an uncorroborated narrative amplified through media repetition.
In an exchange of correspondence between Mr. Maithri Panagoda, Senior Partner, Carroll & O’ Dea Lawyers (letter dated December 06, 2022) appearing on behalf of Mr. Senaka Weeraratna, and Mr. Jonathan Hall, General Counsel and Company Secretary, ICC, Mr Hall ( in letter dated January 20, 2023) takes up the same defense that David Becker (Head Legal, ICC) foolishly raised in 2010 – that the ICC when it arrived by its own efforts granting a Player Right of Appeal in 2006 naming it the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) ,they did not know that Senaka Weeraratna had already conceived the concept of ‘ Player – Referral’ (1997) which carried the same four pillars found in UDRS and had publicized it all over the Cricket dominant countries e.g. UK, Australia,Pakistan and Sri Lanka, nine years before the ICC.
Jonathan Hall says inter alia as follows:
” as the ICC Decision Review System was developed independently by the ICC Cricket Committee and employees of the ICC at the time, it is not possible for there to be a breach of another person’s copyright (to the extent that copyright, if any, actually existed in such other system).
To the extent that any moral rights may exist in the ICC Decision Review System then they will vest in the author of the System who, as set out above, was an ICC employee or contractor, not your client.
Hall adds ” We have also seen that your client raised the same such claims with the ICC back in 2010 and the ICC responded at that time stating that it did not accept your client’s claims”
Both David Becker in 2010 and Jonathan Hall in 2023 ( being highly paid senior lawyers of ICC) have completely overlooked a fundamental principle of law namely the Doctrine of Constructive Notice in their submissions when denying attribution and credit to the true inventor of Player – Referral – Senaka Weeraratna.
Hall makes another absurd statement: ‘ author of the System was an ICC employee or contractor, not your client ” .
No such claim or statement was made in David Becker’s reply in 2010.
Constructive Notice Argument
The ICC cannot claim ignorance for the following legal reasons:
Public Record: The doctrine of Constructive Notice operates on the legal fiction that if information is in the public domain (such as a registered deed or widely circulated public document), a party is deemed to have notice of it, whether they actually read it or not.
Access to Information: It is argued that a group of professionals (the ICC Cricket Committee) tasked with improving the game would reasonably be expected to have reviewed existing literature on the subject, which included Weeraratna’s articles in prominent journals like The Times of London and The International Cricketer.
Moral and Economic Copyright: Because the idea was “seeded” publicly years before the ICC’s “independent” discovery, Weeraratna’s legal team at Carroll & O’Dea asserts he holds both moral and economic copyright that the ICC has overlooked.
What are the adverse consequences for the ICC due to the failure of its Legal Team in overlooking the Doctrine of Constructive Notice when assessing the claim of authorship of DRS by Senaka Weeraratna?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) faces severe institutional, legal, and diplomatic consequences due to its legal team’s reliance on a flawed defense that overlooked the Doctrine of Constructive Notice. By asserting that its committees reached the concept of the Decision Review System (DRS) independently and were “unaware” of Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna’s prior publications, the ICC’s legal positioning has been deeply compromised. Because Weeraratna’s groundbreaking “Player Referral” framework was widely disseminated in mainstream international media starting in 1997—nine years before the ICC introduced its system—the doctrine legally presumes the ICC had knowledge of it. [1, 2]
The primary consequences resulting from this oversight include:
Invalidation of the “Unawareness” Defense: Under the Doctrine of Constructive Notice, a party is legally presumed to know facts that are a matter of public record. Denying knowledge does not absolve the ICC of copyright or moral attribution claims, leaving its legal defense fundamentally weak.
Increased Risk of Litigation: This oversight opens the door for formal intellectual property arbitration or court action. Backed by firms like Carroll & O’Dea, Weeraratna’s team can argue that the ICC had access to his published framework, exposing the ICC to significant economic and moral copyright liability. [1, 2, 3, 4]
2. Deep Institutional and Moral Embarrassment
The “Composer vs. Song” Paradox: The ICC heavily utilizes and profits from the DRS, celebrating its ~7% increase in umpiring accuracy. However, refusing to credit the inventor while enjoying the system creates an embarrassing public narrative that the ICC has “stolen” or unethically co-opted South Asian innovation.
Double Standards in Intellectual Property: Critics highlight a glaring institutional hypocrisy. The ICC openly named, credited, and celebrated the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method for its Western inventors, yet relies on technicalities to deny naming the “Senaka Weeraratna Decision Review System”. This damages the ICC’s standing as a custodian of “Fair Play”. [1, 2, 3, 4]
3. Rising Diplomatic and Regional Friction
Tensions with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC): The failure to resolve this claim within the spirit of the game has triggered geopolitical friction between the ICC and Sri Lankan authorities. There are intensifying domestic calls for Sri Lanka Cricket and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports to escalate this to a formal, state-backed diplomatic dispute.
South Asian Solidarity: The oversight has catalyzed a broader regional narrative. Public intellectuals and legal communities across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are treating the denial of Weeraratna’s authorship as a systemic marginalization of South Asian sports pioneers, weakening the ICC’s political capital in cricket’s most lucrative region. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Damaged Credibility: Relying on flawed legal advice damages the ICC’s reputation as a fair, objective governance body. Moreover it has already damaged the credibility, professional reputation, and sense of Fairplay and Justice of the members of its Legal Team (then and now) namely David Becker, Jonathan Hall and Sally Clark.
Legal Vulnerability: Failing to proactively recognize the prior art and intellectual contribution of the DRS concept leaves the ICC susceptible to international intellectual property claims
If you would like to explore this further, I can provide details on the specific 1997 media publications that satisfy the requirements for Constructive Notice, or outline the reparation steps Sri Lanka Cricket has been urged to take
In this video, Buddha saves animals from being sacrificed by the Priests of those days. The Buddha was against animal sacrifice. He had to be, for he was staunchly opposed to killing. Killing, not just human beings, but all beings without exception. He expressed the view that it was all beings that deserved our compassion. During the time of the Buddha, many kinds of sacrifices were practised by Brahmins who were the priests of the Vedic religion professed by the upper castes of contemporary Indian society. The Buddha did not see any value in these sacrifices, primarily because they were entirely external rites. If one could speak of a ‘right sacrifice’, it had to be something that was internal or spiritual. “I lay no wood, Brahmin, for fire on altars Only within burneth the fire I kindle” of the Brahmins’ practice of tending a regular ‘sacred fire’ and pouring oblations into it for the various gods of the Vedic pantheon. This however was only a relatively harmless, albeit in the eyes of the Buddha useless, activity. The Vedic priests also advocated and performed several types of cruel animal sacrifices. The Buddha rejected all these sacrifices in no uncertain terms. For example, when he was told of a ‘great sacrifice’ that the king of Kosala was about to perform, where 2500 cattle, goats and rams were to be immolated, he declared: “Never to such a rite as that repair The noble seers who walk the perfect way.” And, in one of the Jataka stories (Bhuridatta), the future Buddha is reported to have said: “If he who kills is counted innocent, Let Brahmins Brahmins kill. We see no cattle asking to be slain. That they may gain a new and better life; Rather they go unwilling to their death And in vain struggles yield their final breath. To veil the post, the victim and the blow, The Brahmins let their choicest rhetoric flow”.
David Becker’s legal opinion on the authorship of the “Player Referral” concept—which forms the core foundation of the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS)—has sparked intense criticism for alleged negligence and oversight of core intellectual property principles. The controversy surrounds a legal position drafted by Becker during his tenure as Head of Legal for the International Cricket Council (ICC), in which he denied credit or association to the original conceptualizer. [1, 2, 3]
The Core of the Dispute
The dispute centers on Senaka Weeraratna, a Colombo-based lawyer who widely publicized the “Player Referral” concept in mainstream global media beginning in 1997. His proposed framework allowed players to appeal on-field decisions to a third umpire with a limited number of reviews—the exact foundation of modern DRS. The ICC officially implemented the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in 2009. [1]
When Weeraratna sought formal recognition for his creation, David Becker issued a formal response stating that the ICC did not “copy” the innovation and owed Weeraratna no legal credit or association. [1]
Allegations of Flawed Legal Reasoning
Legal experts and commentators have characterized Becker’s stance as reckless and fundamentally flawed based on two key arguments: [1, 2]
Failure of Constructive Notice: Becker’s opinion claimed the ICC was completely unaware of Weeraratna’s work. Critics argue this completely ignores the doctrine of Constructive Notice. Because Weeraratna extensively published the precise four pillars of the system across international media for over nine years before the ICC adopted it, the ICC is legally deemed to have had access to and knowledge of the concept.
Misconception of Public Domain Rights: Becker’s legal analysis suggested that because Weeraratna openly published his ideas, he effectively waived his proprietary rights. Legal critics state this argument is a misconception of intellectual property law, as open publication does not automatically grant third parties the right to exploit an innovative framework without attribution. [1, 2]
Geopolitical and Institutional Fallout
Becker’s handle on the situation has resulted in significant reputational and diplomatic friction: [1]
Sri Lanka-ICC Tensions: The denial of credit to a Sri Lankan inventor has escalated institutional and diplomatic tension between Sri Lankan sports authorities and the ICC.
Institutional Embarrassment: The reliance on a legally vulnerable opinion has left the ICC exposed to ongoing claims of global-scale intellectual property injustice and a lack of transparency regarding the origins of its technologies. [1, 2]
If you are researching this for a legal case or publication, I can outline the specific available legal remedies or intellectual property frameworks that Sri Lanka and Weeraratna are leveraging to challenge the ICC. [1]
Former International Cricket Council (ICC) legal head David Becker provided a contentious legal opinion regarding the authorship of the “Player Referral” concept (which later formed the DRS). Critics have accused his assessment of being flawed and negligent for incorrectly concluding that the ICC had no prior knowledge of the concept and for overlooking the legal principle of Constructive Notice. [1, 2]
The dispute centers around specific legal and ethical criticisms of Becker’s involvement:
Overlooking Constructive Notice: Colombo-based lawyer Senaka Weeraratna publicly proposed the “Player Referral” concept across global media as early as 1997. Becker’s legal opinion, however, claimed the ICC was unaware of this concept, a position that critics argue ignores the established doctrine of Constructive Notice, as the idea was extensively publicized years before the ICC adopted the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in 2009.
Damaging Findings: Detractors and Sri Lankan advocates claim Becker’s conclusions were misconceived in law and improperly dismissed the original inventor’s rights. The opinion is viewed by critics as having caused a global-scale injustice by denying formal credit to the true creator of the referral system.
Broader Controversy: This dispute has led to ongoing diplomatic and institutional tension between Sri Lanka and the ICC regarding how the governing body handles intellectual property and the origins of its rules. [1, 2]
( she is called Lady Justice. She is usually depicted holding a balance scale and a sword, and often wears a blindfold to symbolize impartiality and fairness. In Washington, D.C., versions of Lady Justice can be seen at several important government buildings, including the United States Supreme Court.)
Sri Lanka’s Justice System Needs Revolutionary Reform — Not Endless Postponements
Sri Lanka today faces a crisis far deeper than economic bankruptcy. It is a crisis of public confidence in governance, law enforcement, and the justice system itself.
Every day, ordinary citizens hear about murders, financial frauds, corruption, child abuse, narcotics crimes, and embezzlement of public funds. Arrests are made with great publicity. Politicians make statements. Media headlines dominate the news cycle. But after a few months, the public loses track of the cases because they disappear into a black hole of postponements, technicalities, and endless legal procedures.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, the legal system functions very differently. When a murder, financial crime, or major embezzlement takes place, law enforcement authorities immediately deploy highly trained investigators, forensic experts, financial analysts, and prosecutors. Evidence is gathered professionally and rapidly. The Attorney General’s department prepares the prosecution efficiently. Courts hear cases continuously, and judgments are delivered within a reasonable timeframe. The accused are either punished or acquitted without dragging cases on for decades.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s legal framework, still heavily influenced by outdated Roman-Dutch legal traditions and colonial-era procedures, has become painfully slow and excessively technical. Instead of serving the victims and protecting society, the system often appears to benefit only the legal industry itself.
The public repeatedly hears of cases being postponed for years due to procedural objections, transfer requests, absence of lawyers, technical defects, or endless appeals. Some criminal cases continue for 10 to 20 years. Witnesses disappear.or commit suicide , Victims lose hope. Public trust collapses.
Another disturbing feature is the increasing trend of powerful suspects appearing in court represented by massive teams of lawyers. In a recent highly publicized case involving allegations against a Buddhist monk for abuse of a minor, reports indicated that nearly 49 lawyers appeared on behalf of the accused.
Ordinary citizens naturally ask: Why does one individual need dozens of lawyers? Can such legal theatrics influence the judicial process? Does it create psychological pressure around the court proceedings? Does it intimidate victims and witnesses?
The law must not only be fair — it must also appear fair in the eyes of the public.
Today, many citizens blame politicians alone for the collapse of governance. But the uncomfortable truth is that the country’s outdated legal machinery itself requires urgent and revolutionary reform.
Sri Lanka must seriously consider:
• Fast-track courts for corruption, financial crimes, narcotics, and child abuse cases • Strict limits on unnecessary postponements • Digitization of court administration and case management • Professional forensic investigation units with modern technology • Time-bound delivery of judgments • Stronger witness protection systems • Simplification of outdated legal procedures • Accountability for abuse of legal technicalities designed only to delay justice
A modern economy cannot function without a credible justice system. Investors will not bring billions of dollars into a country where commercial disputes drag on endlessly. Citizens will not trust governments if criminals and corrupt figures exploit loopholes for decades.
Singapore transformed itself because law enforcement was swift, disciplined, and respected. The United Kingdom built confidence because justice systems function efficiently and independently. Sri Lanka too must decide whether it wants to remain trapped in legal paralysis or move toward a modern system that protects both democracy and public confidence.
The time has come not for cosmetic reforms, but for a complete overhaul of Sri Lanka’s justice system.
Without legal reform, governance reform itself will remain impossible.
Recently, the SLPA Chairman made an important presentation to the German delegation regarding port expansion plans, but Trincomalee appeared to have been left out of the overall development formula.
The Government should clearly clarify whether India’s strategic interests and existing involvement in Trincomalee are influencing this position or creating a caveat regarding future development initiatives.
Restoring the ICC’s integrity regarding the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) authorship dispute requires addressing claims that the ICC’s legal team relied on a legally flawed, self-serving opinion to bypass intellectual property rights and bypass doctrines of constructive notice. [1, 2]
To undo the apparent wrongdoing and restore institutional credibility, the ICC and cricketing bodies must consider the following targeted options:
1. Independent Review & Commission of Inquiry
Establish an Impartial Panel: The ICC must appoint a neutral, independent Commission of Inquiry comprising international intellectual property (IP) and sports law experts. This panel should objectively review the 1997 “Player Referral” concepts without interference from the ICC’s existing internal legal counsel.
Assess Legal Doctrines: An independent review must properly weigh the legal principle of “Constructive Notice”—evaluating whether the ICC should have been aware of the original inventor’s work, which was extensively published years prior to the 2009 launch of UDRS. [1, 2, 3]
2. External Arbitration and Mediation
Utilize CAS: Both Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the ICC can mutually agree to submit the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Binding arbitration ensures a transparent, fair-play outcome rather than relying solely on the ICC’s internal legal interpretation.
Mediation Procedures: The ICC could alternatively use the mediation services of the ICC International Centre for ADR to reach a negotiated, statesmanlike settlement with the inventor. [1, 2, 3]
3. Naming Rights and Fair-Play Restitution
Intellectual Property Recognition: If the independent inquiry validates the original IP, the ICC should formally acknowledge the Colombo-based lawyer Senaka Weeraratna as the true inventor of the Player Referral concept.
Equitable Renaming: Just as the Duckworth-Lewis method is formally named after its authors, equity demands that the ICC properly recognize the system, either by renaming it (e.g., the “Senaka Weeraratna Decision Review System”) or establishing a dedicated royalty and felicitations structure to benefit Sri Lanka’s economically struggling cricket infrastructure. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
4. Holding Internal Legal Teams Accountable
……………….SS
Conflict of Interest Protocols: To ensure institutional accountability, the ICC must enforce its own ICC Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest. This prevents the ICC’s internal legal team from acting as judge and jury over legal opinions that exonerate the ICC from financial liabilities relating to authorship.
Transparency Metrics: The ICC needs to publish a clear, open disclosure of the legal counsel Mr. David Becker (former Head of Legal, ICC) responsible for the original authorship opinions, holding them accountable for any flawed assessments or breaches of legal duty. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The controversy surrounding the authorship of the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) centers on a highly publicized intellectual property dispute between Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Critics argue that the ICC’s legal team, historically spearheaded by former Head of Legal David Becker, relied on a flawed legal opinion to bypass Weeraratna’s claims to the original “Player Referral” concept published in 1997. By claiming the ICC independently developed the system in 2006 without knowledge of his global publications, the legal defense is accused of ignoring the fundamental legal principle of Constructive Notice and violating the “Spirit of Cricket”. [1, 3, 4]
To address these institutional lapses and restore organizational integrity, several legal, diplomatic, and restorative options are available:
1. Independent Commission of Inquiry
The ICC can establish an independent, neutral commission to review the timeline of the DRS concept. This panel would objectively assess Weeraratna’s 1997 publications against the ICC’s internal committee records from 2006 to determine whether original credit was bypassed. [1, 2]
2. Submission to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) []
Rather than engaging in an expensive domestic court battle, both parties can mutually agree to submit the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. As the premier international sports tribunal, CAS offers an unbiased platform to rule on intellectual property and naming rights in sports governance. [1]
3. Formal Diplomatic and Board Intervention
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Sri Lankan Government can elevate the matter through formal diplomatic channels and direct board-level negotiations. Proactive enforcement by member boards ensures that the ICC handles intellectual property disputes with statesmanship rather than relying strictly on technical legal defenses.
4. Application of the “User Pays” Equity Principle [1]
If full legal ownership is difficult to retroactively alter, the ICC can adopt an equitable “user pays” model. This framework recognizes the financial disparities of member nations by providing fair compensation or licensing royalties to the inventor’s estate or regional cricket development funds.
5. Corrective Nomenclature and Public Recognition
To align with historical precedents like the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, the ICC can formally rebrand or sub-title the system to include its original creator (e.g., the Weeraratna DRS). Publicly acknowledging the system’s roots at major ICC events would demonstrate accountability and ethical governance.
If you would like to explore this topic further, I can provide a detailed breakdown of how the legal principle of Constructive Notice applies specifically to globally publicized intellectual property claims
Sri Lanka’s ambitious US$ 2 billion port expansion programme may look impressive on paper, but without a competent, technically driven execution team, many of these projects risk becoming expensive national fantasies.
The proposed Colombo North Port expansion is a classic example.
For years, experts have warned that the northern boundary of Colombo Port faces increasing environmental and engineering challenges due to changing rainfall patterns, severe flooding, and the sensitivity of the Kelani River outfall. Any major reclamation or port expansion northwards will inevitably interfere with flood discharge dynamics, creating long-term environmental and urban risks for Colombo city itself.
Land acquisition will become another political and social nightmare. Delays, litigation, compensation disputes, and resistance from affected communities could drag the project for decades. Sri Lanka has a history of announcing mega projects without resolving the ground realities first.
Instead of focusing on practical and immediately achievable priorities, authorities now appear distracted by glamorous concepts.
Take Trincomalee.
For years, advisory boards under the Export Development Board (EDB) proposed the establishment of a Marine and Offshore Industry Zone in the Clappenburg area. Detailed discussions were held. Board approvals were granted. Cabinet papers were even drafted. The vision was to create a shipbuilding, repair, offshore engineering, and industrial hub capable of generating exports, skilled employment, and long-term maritime capability for Sri Lanka.
Why then has this strategy suddenly been sidelined in favour of merely talking about a marina in Trincomalee?
A marina may support tourism, but it cannot become the economic engine that a marine industrial zone could create. Sri Lanka must decide whether it wants postcard projects or industrial development.
The situation in Galle is equally alarming.
The proposed expansion involving reclamation near the sea front adjacent to the Closenberg Hotel is both environmentally and politically dangerous. Any attempt to alter the iconic southern coastline for an impractical harbour basin expansion could provoke enormous public backlash. Politicians representing the South would be committing political suicide by supporting such a move.
The solution is far simpler.
Privatise and commercially develop the East Pier. Construct an additional breakwater where technically feasible. Improve operational efficiency, dredging, digital logistics, and connectivity. Focus on realistic expansion instead of politically attractive but economically questionable mega projects.
Sri Lanka’s maritime sector does not suffer from lack of ideas.
It suffers from lack of disciplined execution, continuity, technical prioritisation, and the courage to pursue commercially viable strategies instead of headline-grabbing announcements.
Ports are too important to be driven by prestige projects and bureaucratic improvisation.
While Sri Lanka is now sitting on a powder keg of dog rabies, about to ignite, it is bewildering that the 2026 budget allocated Rs.100 million for a dog crematorium cum shelter to one local government body out of 343, and no money for National Dog Sterilization. This is the first time money has not been allocated for National Dog Sterilization since 2008.
Retardation of the National Dog Sterilization Program
Owing to the retardation of the national dog sterilization program for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025, by 2026 we clearly witness island-wide, an increased dog population, converting once again the target of rabies eradication by 2030 to mere rhetoric.
While no money has been allocated for 2026 for National Dog Sterilization, of the 184 million allocated for 2025, 155 million of unused funds have gone back to the treasury, and likewise 85 million has gone back from the 2024 allocation of 185 million.
Dogs litter twice a year, and if back-to-back sterilizations of dogs are not effected countrywide, whatever sustainability of dog population control already achieved at the cost of billions of Rupees, is quickly nullified and a nation of people is exposed to the risk of rabies contraction with such an uncontrolled increase.
Can such a Cosmetic and Costly Dog Crematorium Be Justified?
Given this volatile backdrop in a rabies-endemic country such as ours, can building a costly Dog Crematorium, a luxury, be justified?
· Rs. 30 million is needed to build such a crematorium.
· The heavy-duty concreted foundation for the incinerator and proper exhaust chimney cost Rs, 10 million.
· Imported Machinery costs around Rs.20 million, with a huge running cost needing gas and diesel, a cost that cannot be estimated owing to the market price fluctuations.
· And we will be spending precious foreign exchange to import gas and diesel to cremate dogs, while staying patiently in queues to get rationed fuel.
· This also initiates a fresh source of environmental pollution. The fumes generated by burning dogs causes fresh environmental issues, not tolerated by residents. For example, the incinerator at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Peradeniya is not used owing to protests by the residents, citing air pollution.
Who in Sri Lanka Can Afford Dog Crematorium Services?
A dog crematorium is a luxury in a country like ours, catering to a handful of the affluent.
Most pet owners bury their beloved pets in their gardens somehow and only a few pet owners in Colombo may need some form of pet burial service, which can be privately obtained in Colombo for a cost of 25,000/.
Burying a dog and/or any other animal is not an issue to Sri Lankans in almost all other parts of the island. But being exposed to the rabies risk is.
When most cannot afford to find money to cremate their kith and kin, let alone their dogs, for whose benefit is this crematorium being built at a cost of Rs.100 million to supposedly cremate a few pet dogs or none at all, unless the plan is to incinerate the street dogs to be caught and incarcerated in the adjacent shelter.
Sinister Intentions?
A dog crematorium next to a dog shelter, declared to provide welfare to all street dogs in the Western Province, will be stressful for the shelter inmates, as dogs have a highly advanced ability to smell and sense danger.
And for those of us who have seen gassing of impounded dogs, a dog crematorium next to a street dog shelter is technically a reversion to gassing units next to cages holding impounded dogs, awaiting gassing.
Pilot-Project State Shelter to Hold Street Dogs?
Why do we need a pilot project of a street dog shelter when we have three abysmally failed state-run shelters in Nellikulam, Wennappuwa and Konesapuri, all compelled to shut down within about 6 months of them being set-up?
And, Pilot Projects are initiated to gather hitherto unknown information.
Without controlling the following two external factors, shelters get unmanageably overcrowded and defeat the purpose of setting them up. Merely citing street dog welfare and putting up Fancy Boards are ridiculous.
The two uncontrollable external factors are: 1) dog population growth; 2) dumping.
Without controlling the above two external factors, no amount of technical support by any shelter expert”, if indeed there are such experts, is merely agenda-driven rhetoric, as this shelter too will have to be closed within a few months, because the two uncontrollable external factors which inevitably determine the fate of such places still exist, more than ever now.
Unless of course the sinister plan is to conveniently kill and burn the dumped animals, the excess and the sick.
Negative Factors of Dog Shelters
Dog shelters have the following inevitable outcomes:
· No holistically sustainable results are generated.
· Very expensive to run, artificially taking over the care of self-sufficient street dogs and trying to prolong their natural life by restricting them to ill-managed shelters, that defeats the provision of their welfare.
· A huge long term commitment, which cannot be sustained owing to lack of: 1) funds, 2) committed and caring workers, 3) consistent and proper basic care, 4) consistent vet care.
· These shelters become centers of dumping within months and hence: 1) become disease spreading centers, 2) bring forth new public health issues, 3) cause new environmental issues, and 4) give rise to public nuisance factors, with calls to remove / shut down these shelters, built spending enormous amounts of public funds, which should be ideally channeled towards sterilization.
Solution andUrgent Priority
The National Target should be rabies eradication and zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths cost-effectively. These targets cannot be achieved by providing respectable burials to pet dogs.
What should be prioritized to achieve these targets of utmost public health significance is comprehensive island-wide decentralized dog sterilization via each Pradesheeya Sabha (Local Government Bodies), coupled with the legal arresting of dumping dogs by registering dog owners.
After at least a minimum of three years of such island-wide regular dog sterilization, which eliminates the need to dump, a shelter or two can be meaningfully and safely established as a pilot study.
This rebuttal examines whether the Channel 4 documentary establishes its central allegation of high-level state complicity in the Easter Sunday attacks on the basis of independently verifiable evidence, or whether it relies primarily on delayed testimony, anonymous sourcing, and inferential narrative construction.
SECTION 1
THE ENTIRE CHANNEL 4 CASE RESTS ON ASAD MAULANA
Channel 4’s central allegation of high-level complicity in the Easter Sunday attacks rests overwhelmingly on the testimony of a single individual — Asad Maulana.
The documentary itself acknowledges that Maulana was making many of these allegations publicly for the first time in 2023, approximately four years after the Easter Sunday attacks of April 2019.
Before examining the allegations themselves, it is necessary to examine the credibility, consistency, timing, and evidentiary value of the witness upon whom the entire theory depends.
Preliminary Questions Regarding Maulana
If Maulana claims he knew who organized the attacks, who gave the orders, and who benefited from them, why did he not provide this information to Sri Lankan law enforcement immediately after the attacks?
Why did these allegations emerge publicly only in 2023, four years after the attacks?
If he possessed knowledge of a terrorist conspiracy before the attacks, what steps did he take to prevent the loss of life?
If he possessed knowledge after the attacks, why was this information not provided to investigators immediately?
If his allegations are true, does his own role require examination as a potential facilitator, intermediary, material witness, or accomplice?
The objective of Channel 4 is also made clear – use Maulana to drive notion of top-level complicity” in the easter bombings by officials inside the Sri Lankan Govt. Though the innuendos are at the Rajapakse’s, the attacks took place not under the Rajapakse govt but under Wickremasinghe-Sirisena Yahapalana Govt.
INTERNAL CONSISTENCY PROBLEMS IN MAULANA’S ACCOUNT
Contradiction 1
Zaharan was allegedly in hiding and wanted by police.
Yet Maulana claims:
Direct access to Zaharan.
Ability to arrange meetings.
Ability to summon Zaharan to locations.
If Maulana possessed this level of access to a wanted extremist leader, why was this information not disclosed to investigators?
Contradiction 2
Maulana claims:
He remained outside the alleged February 2018 meeting.
Yet:
He claims knowledge of discussions inside.
How does he know what was discussed during a meeting he says he did not attend?
Contradiction 3
Maulana claims:
He did not know details of the alleged plan.
Yet later states:
He knows who organized the attacks.
He knows whose orders were followed.
He knows who benefited.
When exactly did he acquire this knowledge?
Before the attacks? Immediately after the attacks? Or years later?
Contradiction 4
Maulana claims:
He was frightened after the attacks.
Yet:
He remained silent for years.
Why was there no immediate complaint, affidavit, police statement, testimony before a commission, or sworn deposition?
THE PROBLEM OF DELAYED DISCLOSURE
I Can No Longer Live With What I Know”
Maulana states:
I can’t carry this my whole life. I want to tell the truth.”
Questions arise:
The alleged meeting occurred in February 2018.
The attacks occurred in April 2019.
The disclosure was made in 2023.
Why was the information withheld for approximately five years?
What event occurred in 2023 that suddenly made disclosure possible?
Why was no disclosure made to Sri Lankan investigators, the Presidential Commission, Parliament, the courts, or foreign law enforcement agencies immediately after the attacks?
Maulana states:
I have some strong proof they can’t deny.”
Questions:
What is this proof?
When was it obtained?
Has it been independently verified?
Has it been subjected to forensic examination?
Why was it not produced immediately after the attacks?
THE CENTRAL CREDIBILITY QUESTION
Before any allegation against any individual can be accepted, the credibility of the witness making the allegation must first be established.
Therefore the following questions arise:
Are the allegations independently corroborated?
Are they internally consistent?
Are they supported by objective records?
Are they supported by evidence?
Or do they rely primarily upon recollections first disclosed years after the events?
Only after examining these questions can the allegations themselves be properly assessed.
LEGAL STATUS OF THE PRIMARY WITNESS: OPEN WARRANT AND ADMISSIBILITY CONCERNS
He is not just a delayed witness” but a person with outstanding legal issues
Open warrant affects:
credibility
motive to shift narrative
admissibility weight (even if not inadmissible per se)
His statements are uncorroborated hearsay with potential self-protection motive
Section 2 – The Alleged February 2018 Meeting
CAN IT BE VERIFIED?
2.1 Why This Meeting Matters
Everything that follows in Channel 4’s documentary depends on this alleged meeting.
If the meeting cannot be established:
There is no evidence that Suresh Sallay met Zaharan.
There is no evidence that Sallay gave instructions.
There is no evidence that any alleged conspiracy existed.
The entire theory presented by Channel 4 collapses.
Therefore the first question is not what was discussed.
The first question is:
Did the meeting actually take place?
2.2 Maulana’s Account
Maulana claims:
In January 2018 Pillayan instructed him to arrange a meeting.
The meeting took place in February 2018.
Location was Karadipuval coconut estate.
Zaharan arrived with several individuals.
Suresh Sallay attended.
Maulana introduced Sallay to Zaharan.
Meeting lasted approximately three hours.
Maulana remained outside.
After the meeting Sallay allegedly told him that the Rajapaksas required an unsafe situation in Sri Lanka.
2.3 Objective Facts That Require Verification
Question 1: Was Suresh Sallay even in Sri Lanka?
At the time:
Sallay was serving in Malaysia.
He was on a diplomatic posting.
Objective records should exist:
Immigration records.
Passport records.
Airline manifests.
Diplomatic travel records.
Question:
Has any documentary evidence been produced showing Sallay entered Sri Lanka for this alleged meeting?
Question 2: Did the Venue exist?
Maulana states:
There was one house on the coconut estate.”
However:
Statements attributed to caretakers reportedly indicate that the house was only constructed around August–September 2018.
Was there a house in February 2018?
Are there land records?
Construction records?
Satellite imagery?
Witness statements?
If no structure existed, where did the alleged three-hour meeting occur or did it occur?
Question 3: Why Was Maulana Needed?
Maulana claims:
He introduced Sallay to Zaharan.
However:
Allegations by Father Cyril in Oct 2021 claimed Zaharan and Sallay allegedly already knew each other.
Therefore:
Why was an intermediary required?
Which version is correct?
Question 4: How Did Maulana Access Zaharan?
Maulana says:
Zaharan was in hiding.
Zaharan was wanted by police.
Yet:
Maulana claims he could contact him.
Arrange meetings.
Bring him to a remote location.
How did Maulana possess this level of access to a wanted extremist leader?
2.4 The Three-Hour Meeting Problem
Maulana says:
He waited outside.
The meeting lasted approximately three hours.
Yet he later claims knowledge of:
The purpose of the meeting.
What was discussed.
The alleged political objective.
Questions:
How does he know what occurred inside?
Was the meeting recorded?
Were there witnesses?
Did anyone else hear the discussion?
If he was excluded, his knowledge becomes second-hand.
2.5 The Alleged Statement by Sallay
Maulana claims Sallay later told him:
The Rajapaksas need an unsafe situation in Sri Lanka.”
Questions:
Why would a senior intelligence officer reveal a supposedly secret operation to someone who had been excluded from the meeting?
Was this statement recorded?
Was it documented anywhere?
Are there witnesses?
The allegation rests solely on Maulana’s recollection years later.
2.6 Objective Evidence that could verify the February 2018 Meeting
Potential sources include:
Immigration records.
Passport records.
Airline manifests.
Mobile phone location records.
Vehicle movement records.
Telecom records.
Witness testimony.
Estate caretaker testimony.
Construction records.
Satellite imagery.
Central Question:
Has any independent evidence been publicly produced that confirms this meeting took place as described?
SECTION 3
THE JANUARY 2019 DISCOVERY: IF AUTHORITIES ALREADY KNEW ABOUT ZAHARAN, WHY WAS HE NOT ARRESTED?
One of the most striking facts presented in the documentary is not the allegation against Suresh Sallay.
It is the admission that by January 2019—three months before the Easter Sunday attacks—law enforcement authorities had already linked Zaharan Hashim and the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) to a significant cache of explosives and a suspected training facility.
If this is correct, a critical question arises:
Why was Zaharan not apprehended before April 2019?
This question exists independently of any allegation made by Asad Maulana.
The Coconut Estate Discovery
The documentary states that:
Police investigations led officers to a coconut estate.
More than 100 kilograms of urea nitrate explosive material were allegedly discovered.
Two suspects were arrested.
Investigators linked the location to Zaharan Hashim.
Investigators linked the occupants to NTJ.
The anonymous former police official states:
We found out that the safe house or training base was run by Zaharan.”
If this statement is accurate, then by January 2019 investigators had already established:
The existence of an extremist network.
A connection to Zaharan Hashim.
A connection to NTJ.
Possession of explosive materials.
Existing Arrest Warrants Against Zaharan
Reports indicate that:
Zaharan was already being sought by law enforcement.
Warrants had reportedly been issued 2 years prior to the Easter attacks.
He was already known to security authorities.
If so:
Why did the January 2019 discovery not trigger an immediate nationwide operation to locate him?
The Critical Operational Questions
The documentary focuses heavily on alleged interference by intelligence agencies.
However, a more immediate question arises:
What actions were taken after January 2019?
Specifically:
Was a nationwide manhunt initiated?
Were airports and ports alerted?
Were known associates placed under surveillance?
Were financial transactions monitored?
Were communication records examined?
Were family members questioned?
Were safe houses identified?
Were additional arrests made?
The answers to these questions are essential to understanding how Zaharan remained at large.
The Brick Wall” Narrative
The presenter states:
Police had enough information to arrest Zaharan and his followers, but at every turn they ran into brick walls.”
This statement raises two separate issues.
Issue 1: Sufficient Evidence
If investigators genuinely possessed enough evidence to arrest Zaharan, then:
The threat had already been identified.
The principal suspect had already been identified.
The question then becomes:
Why was he not apprehended?
Issue 2: Alleged Obstruction
The documentary attributes the failure primarily to intelligence interference.
However:
Even if intelligence reports were inaccurate, investigators still possessed:
The explosives.
The suspects.
The NTJ connection.
Zaharan’s identity.
Would these facts alone not justify aggressive operational action?
The DMI Letter Presented by Channel 4
The documentary displays a military intelligence document dated 5 December 2018.
Questions arise:
What direct connection does this document have to the January 2019 raid?
Does it negate the discovery of explosives?
Does it negate the NTJ connection?
Does it negate Zaharan’s status as a wanted individual?
Even if intelligence assessments were disputed, the physical evidence discovered in January 2019 remained.
Did Investigators Already Know NTJ Was Involved?
The anonymous source states:
If military intelligence had not misled investigators, CID would have found that NTJ was involved.”
Yet the documentary itself states:
Explosives were found.
NTJ members were arrested.
Zaharan was linked to the site.
This raises a logical question:
If NTJ had already been linked to the location, in what sense had investigators failed to identify NTJ involvement?
Responsibility of Investigative Agencies
The documentary places primary emphasis on intelligence failures.
However, responsibility for criminal investigations also rests with investigative agencies themselves.
Questions therefore arise:
What investigative steps were taken?
What follow-up operations occurred?
What arrests were pursued?
What recommendations were made?
What requests were made to courts?
What requests were made for surveillance authorities?
These questions become particularly important given the January 2019 discoveries.
An Alternative Investigative Question
The documentary focuses on whether intelligence agencies allegedly obstructed investigators.
An equally important question is:
How did a known extremist leader, already linked to explosives, already associated with NTJ, and already wanted by authorities, remain at large for three additional months?
This question requires examination regardless of whether any allegation against Suresh Sallay is accepted or rejected.
The Central Question
If the January 2019 raid established:
Zaharan’s connection to the site,
NTJ involvement,
Possession of explosives,
The existence of a training facility,
then the critical question becomes:
What specifically prevented Zaharan Hashim from being apprehended between January and April 2019?
The answer to that question may be more important than many of the allegations advanced later in the documentary.
SECTION 4
EASTER SUNDAY, THE INTELLIGENCE WARNINGS, AND THE ALLEGED TELEPHONE CALL
Having examined the alleged February 2018 meeting and the January 2019 discovery of explosives linked to NTJ, the next question concerns the events immediately surrounding the Easter Sunday attacks themselves.
Channel 4 attempts to connect its broader theory to the attacks through two separate claims:
The existence of advance intelligence warnings prior to Easter Sunday.
Maulana’s claim that he received a telephone call from Suresh Sallay on the morning of the attacks.
These issues require separate examination.
The Advance Intelligence Warnings
The documentary states that foreign intelligence agencies warned Sri Lankan authorities that Zaharan Hashim was planning attacks.
According to the documentary:
Warnings were received from Indian intelligence.
Specific targets were identified.
Churches were mentioned as potential targets.
The warnings were circulated among security officials.
An anonymous source states:
The date was certain. The location was certain. The attackers were certain.”
If this description is accurate, a critical question arises:
What actions were taken by the security apparatus after the warnings were received?
The focus should not merely be on who received the warnings, but on what operational steps followed.
Which agencies received the warnings?
When exactly were they received?
Who was responsible for acting upon them?
What preventive measures were ordered?
What surveillance operations were initiated?
Were churches warned?
Were hotels warned?
Were suspects monitored?
Were arrests attempted?
These questions are essential in determining whether the failure was one of intelligence collection or operational response.
Ignoring the above & focusing only on Suresh Sallay who had no operational role in service is like presuming he prevented entire security apparatus from taking action on warnings received prior to the attacks.
The Relationship Between the warnings and the January 2019 Discovery
An important issue often overlooked is that the warnings did not emerge in isolation.
By January 2019:
Explosives had reportedly been discovered.
NTJ links had reportedly been established.
Zaharan was reportedly identified as a suspect.
Existing warrants reportedly existed.
Therefore, the foreign warnings should be viewed together with information already available to investigators.
This raises a broader question:
Why did multiple warning indicators fail to produce preventive action?
The FBI-Related Claim
The anonymous source further claims:
The FBI gave us an IP address. The person using that IP address had direct connections to Zaharan.”
The documentary then suggests that the individual was connected to military intelligence.
However, several questions arise.
Independent Verification
Has the FBI publicly confirmed this claim?
Was the information presented before a court, commission, or inquiry?
Was the alleged connection independently verified?
Was any direct link established to Suresh Sallay?
Were the findings publicly documented?
The existence of an investigative lead is not necessarily equivalent to proof of involvement.
Without supporting documentation, it is difficult to assess the evidentiary value of this assertion.
THE ALLEGED TELEPHONE CALL
The documentary states that on Easter Sunday morning Maulana received a call from Suresh Sallay.
According to Maulana:
Sallay allegedly instructed him to:
Go to the Taj Samudra Hotel.
Meet a particular individual.
Take possession of that individual’s telephone.
Transport the individual elsewhere.
Maulana claims he replied that he was in Batticaloa and therefore unable to comply.
This allegation is significant because it is presented as evidence that Sallay allegedly possessed prior knowledge of the attack.
JURISDICTIONAL & ADMISSIBILITY GAP
FOREIGN MEDIA ALLEGATIONS VS DOMESTIC LEGAL STANDARDS
A critical distinction must be made between journalistic presentation of allegations and legally admissible evidence.
Channel 4 is a media organisation and not a judicial body. Its findings do not constitute judicial determinations, nor are its interviews subject to the procedural safeguards of a court of law.
Similarly:
Interviews conducted by international organisations or human rights bodies do not, in themselves, constitute judicial findings.
Intelligence briefings or investigative interviews are not equivalent to evidence tested under cross-examination.
Allegations presented in media reports have not undergone adversarial scrutiny.
Absence of cross-examination reduces probative weight, particularly in serious criminal allegations involving state complicity or terrorism.
Accordingly, media-based assertions must be distinguished from evidence that has been judicially examined or formally adjudicated.
However, the claim raises several questions.
The Identification Problem
According to Maulana’s account:
He was told only that a person would be waiting.
No name was provided.
No identifying details were provided.
Questions arise:
How was Maulana expected to identify the individual?
How was the individual expected to identify Maulana?
How would either party recognize the other in a crowded hotel?
The practicality of the alleged instruction requires clarification.
The Telephone Problem
Maulana claims he was instructed to obtain the person’s phone.
Questions include:
Why would an unknown individual surrender a phone to someone he had never met?
Had arrangements already been made?
If arrangements had been made, what evidence exists of those arrangements?
The documentary does not address these questions.
The Timing Problem
The documentary later shows CCTV footage of a suspected attacker at the Taj Samudra Hotel.
The presenter states:
The individual entered the hotel.
The individual carried explosives.
The individual received a phone call.
Shortly afterward he left the hotel.
The documentary then suggests that this individual may have been the person Sallay allegedly instructed Maulana to meet.
However:
This appears to be an inference rather than evidence.
Questions arise:
How was the individual’s identity established?
How was the alleged connection established?
What evidence links the CCTV footage to Maulana’s claim?
The documentary appears to move from possibility to conclusion without demonstrating the intermediate evidentiary steps.
The Missing Call Records
Perhaps the most important issue concerns objective verification.
The alleged call could potentially be verified through:
Telephone records.
International roaming records.
Mobile tower data.
Device extraction reports.
Intelligence intercepts.
Service provider records.
Questions therefore arise:
Has any such evidence been produced publicly?
Specifically:
Has any call record been produced?
Has any telecom provider confirmed the call?
Has any commission verified the call?
Has any court examined the records?
Has any investigative body publicly authenticated the communication?
Without such evidence, the allegation remains dependent primarily on witness recollection.
The Overseas Location Question
The documentary presents the allegation as occurring while Sallay was reportedly outside Sri Lanka.
This creates additional questions:
Was Sallay physically overseas at the time?
If so, can roaming records verify the alleged communication?
Have immigration records been examined?
Have investigators publicly addressed this issue?
Objective records should be capable of resolving these questions.
Prior Knowledge Versus Proof
The central implication of the telephone-call allegation is that Sallay allegedly possessed prior knowledge of the attack.
However, establishing prior knowledge requires evidence.
Questions include:
What independent evidence exists beyond Maulana’s statement?
Was the alleged communication corroborated?
Was the alleged instruction recorded?
Was it reported contemporaneously?
Was it disclosed before 2023?
These questions are important because the allegation serves as one of the documentary’s principal links between Sallay and the attacks themselves.
The Central Question
The documentary invites viewers to conclude that the alleged Easter Sunday telephone call demonstrates foreknowledge and involvement.
However, before such a conclusion can be reached, several foundational questions require answers:
Did the call occur?
Has it been independently verified?
Do objective telecom records support the claim?
Has any investigative body authenticated the allegation?
What evidence exists beyond Maulana’s recollection years later?
Until these questions are answered, the allegation remains an assertion requiring verification rather than an established fact.
SECTION 5
POST-ATTACK INVESTIGATIONS, THE ANONYMOUS WITNESS, AND THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SURESH SALLAY
After presenting the alleged February 2018 meeting and the alleged Easter Sunday telephone call, Channel 4 introduces a further layer to its narrative.
The documentary relies heavily on an anonymous former official who claims that:
Investigations were obstructed.
Police were prevented from pursuing certain leads.
Military intelligence interfered with inquiries.
Suresh Sallay played a central role in facilitating the attacks.
These allegations are significant because they move beyond suspicion and imply direct responsibility.
The question therefore becomes:
What evidence is presented to support these conclusions?
THE ANONYMOUS WITNESS
The Problem of Anonymous Testimony
Anonymous sources can sometimes play a legitimate role in investigative journalism.
However, anonymity creates obvious limitations.
The audience cannot independently assess:
The witness’s identity.
His qualifications.
His role in the investigation.
His access to information.
His possible biases.
His motives.
As a result, the credibility of the witness depends heavily upon independent corroboration.
HEARSAY UPON HEARSAY: EVIDENTIARY WEAKNESS OF THE CHAIN
A key concern in the documentary is the nature of the information presented,
The primary account originates fromAsad Maulana, whose claims are not independently verified and are based on delayed recollection.
This is then reinforced by ananonymous former police official, whose statements cannot be independently scrutinised or cross-examined.
Finally, the documentary narrative itself acts as asecondary interpretive layer, drawing conclusions and presenting inferences.
This creates a situation of multiple hearsay layering, where each additional layer further distances the final narrative from verifiable primary evidence.
Opinion Versus Evidence
The anonymous witness makes a number of strong statements.
For example:
Gotabaya Rajapaksa controlled Suresh Sallay.”
He is responsible for many of Sri Lanka’s problems.”
He played a huge role.”
He facilitated the attacks.”
These statements raise an important distinction.
Are these factual findings or personal opinions?
What evidence supports these conclusions?
What documents support them?
What witness testimony supports them?
What investigative findings support them?
Without supporting evidence, such statements remain allegations rather than proven facts.
THE CLAIM OF INVESTIGATIVE OBSTRUCTION
The documentary repeatedly suggests that investigators were prevented from pursuing critical leads.
The anonymous witness claims:
The investigation was sabotaged.”
Military intelligence misled investigators.”
How & by Whom
What specifically was sabotaged?
Which investigation?
On what date?
By whom?
Through what mechanism?
What evidence demonstrates interference?
General allegations are difficult to evaluate without specific examples.
The Missing Operational Details
If investigators were obstructed, objective evidence should exist.
Examples include:
Written orders.
Internal memoranda.
Investigation reports.
Transfer orders.
Witness statements.
Court filings.
Questions:
Have any such documents been produced?
Have they been independently verified?
Have they been examined by courts or commissions?
THE CLAIM THAT POLICE WERE PREVENTED FROM INTERROGATING SUSPECTS
The documentary suggests that military intelligence prevented investigators from questioning certain individuals.
This raises important questions.
Who were the suspects?
What were their names?
When were they detained?
Which investigators sought access?
Who denied access?
Was the denial documented?
Without identifying the suspects and circumstances, the allegation cannot be independently assessed.
THE ALLEGED ROLE OF SURESH SALLAY
The documentary repeatedly portrays Sallay as the central figure behind the alleged conspiracy.
Yet several questions arise.
If the evidence was so compelling against him:
Why did major investigations not publicly reach the same conclusion?
Questions include:
Why did the Presidential Commission not identify Sallay as a conspirator?
Why did Parliamentary inquiries not make such a finding?
Why did court proceedings not reach such a conclusion?
Why did earlier CID investigations not publicly identify him as the organizer of the attacks?
However, they are relevant when evaluating the strength of the allegations.
THE ISSUE OF TIMING
A recurring question throughout the documentary concerns timing.
Many of the allegations emerged publicly years after the attacks.
Why were these allegations not presented immediately?
Why did they not emerge during earlier investigations?
Why were they not presented to courts at the earliest opportunity?
Why did they gain prominence only years later?
The timing of allegations is often relevant when assessing reliability and evidentiary value.
THE TRANSFER OF INVESTIGATORS
The documentary claims:
All officers connected to the investigation were transferred.”
and suggests this demonstrates a deliberate effort to derail investigations.
Was every transfer improper?
Or alternatively:
Were transfers routine?
Were some officers reassigned?
Were performance concerns involved?
Were administrative reasons involved?
The mere existence of transfers does not automatically establish obstruction.
The critical issue is whether specific investigations were halted as a direct result.
THE NEED FOR EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS
The documentary frequently moves from allegations to conclusions.
For example:
Sallay allegedly knew Zaharan.
Therefore Sallay facilitated the attacks.
Investigators were transferred.
Therefore investigations were sabotaged.
Intelligence reports were disputed.
Therefore intelligence agencies orchestrated the attacks.
Each of these conclusions requires evidentiary support.
What evidence establishes causation?
What evidence excludes alternative explanations?
What evidence has been independently verified?
THE LEGAL TEST
A distinction must be made between:
Investigative Leads
Information requiring further inquiry.
Allegations
Claims made by witnesses.
Evidence
Material capable of being independently verified.
Findings
Conclusions reached after investigation and evaluation.
Many claims presented in the documentary appear to remain within the first two categories.
The question is whether they have progressed to the latter two.
The Importance of Judicial Scrutiny
The allegations discussed by Channel 4 are serious.
They imply:
Prior knowledge of terrorism.
Facilitation of terrorism.
Obstruction of investigations.
Political conspiracy.
State complicity in mass murder.
Such allegations ordinarily require rigorous scrutiny.
Have these allegations been tested under cross-examination?
Have they been examined in court?
Have they been subjected to forensic analysis?
Have they been independently corroborated?
Without such scrutiny, caution is required before treating allegations as established fact.
THE CENTRAL QUESTION
The documentary repeatedly presents Suresh Sallay as the individual allegedly pulling the strings.”
However, before such a conclusion can be accepted, the following questions require answers:
What independent evidence directly links him to the planning of the attacks?
What evidence links him to the execution of the attacks?
What evidence links him to the suicide bombers?
What evidence has been independently verified?
What evidence has survived judicial scrutiny?
What evidence exists beyond witness allegations and anonymous testimony?
Until those questions are answered, the allegations remain matters requiring investigation rather than established conclusions.
SECTION 6
CHANNEL 4’S JOURNALISTIC METHODOLOGY: INVESTIGATION OR NARRATIVE CONSTRUCTION?
The purpose of this analysis is not to determine who is guilty or innocent.
Rather, it is to examine whether the documentary meets the standards ordinarily expected of investigative journalism when making allegations of state complicity in an act of mass terrorism that killed hundreds of people.
The central question is therefore:
Does the documentary present evidence that allows viewers to reach their own conclusions, or does it guide viewers toward a predetermined conclusion through narrative construction?
THE CENTRALITY OF A SINGLE WITNESS
By its own structure, the documentary’s core allegations depend overwhelmingly upon one witness:
Asad Maulana.
The principal allegations concerning:
The alleged February 2018 meeting.
The alleged role of Suresh Sallay.
The alleged political motive.
The alleged connection between Zaharan and state actors.
all originate primarily from Maulana’s account.
This raises an obvious question:
Can a theory of state-sponsored terrorism be established primarily on the basis of one witness whose claims emerged years after the attacks?
A prudent investigative approach would ordinarily seek substantial independent corroboration before presenting such allegations as credible.
THE USE OF ANONYMOUS SOURCES
The documentary also relies heavily on an anonymous former police official.
The audience is unable to independently assess:
The individual’s identity.
Their role.
Their access to information.
Their reliability.
Their possible motivations.
While anonymous sources can be legitimate in journalism, the less the audience knows about a source, the greater the need for independent documentary evidence.
What evidence independently corroborates the anonymous witness?
Which of his claims have been verified?
Which remain opinions or personal beliefs?
MEDIA TRIAL EFFECT AND PRE-ADJUDICATION REPUTATIONAL PUNISHMENT: THE BULATHWATTE PRECEDENT
A relevant comparative concern arises from the case of a highly decorated officer Major Prabath Bulathwatte of the Tripoli Platoon, who was publicly associated with serious allegations years after the events in question.
Although he was arrested on suspicion and his case was widely reported in media discourse, the judicial process did not ultimately establish final criminal liability.
However, the reputational consequences of early public attribution remained irreversible, demonstrating a critical legal and ethical principle:
The presumption of innocence is a foundational principle of criminal justice. • Individuals must not be treated as guilty prior to adjudication. • Media narratives that imply culpability before judicial determination risk creating irreversible reputational punishment.
This illustrates a broader media trial effect”, where public perception of guilt is formed before evidence is tested in court.
Media attribution of guilt prior to judicial determination creates irreversible reputational punishment even where legal liability is not established.
This concern is directly relevant to the Channel 4 methodology, where individuals are visually and narratively linked to serious crimes without equivalent emphasis on judicial findings or evidentiary adjudication.
ASYMMETRIC SCRUTINY OF SUBJECTS VERSUS WITNESSES
A further concern arises from the apparent inconsistency in the treatment of different categories of individuals within the documentary.
On one hand, individuals who are the subject of allegations are presented in a manner that strongly implies culpability, despite the absence of judicial findings or tested evidence.
On the other hand, certain key witnesses—despite having unresolved legal issues or open warrants—are treated as credible sources of authoritative information without comparable scrutiny.
This creates an imbalance, where:
Alleged subjects are implicitly presumed culpable without adjudication, while
Key witnesses are presumed reliable without equivalent verification.
Such an approach raises concerns relating to the principle of equality.
It also reflects selective evidentiary scrutiny, where credibility thresholds appear to vary depending on the narrative function of the individual within the documentary.
REPETITION OF A POLITICAL MOTIVE
Throughout the documentary, viewers are repeatedly presented with a single overarching explanation:
The attacks were allegedly intended to create instability and facilitate the return of the Rajapaksas to power.
This theory is introduced repeatedly through:
Visual imagery.
The repetition itself is notable because the documentary devotes comparatively little attention to alternative explanations.
Were competing theories examined with equal rigor?
Were ideological motives examined with equal rigor?
Were extremist motivations examined with equal rigor?
Were international terrorist influences examined with equal rigor?
A balanced investigation ordinarily examines all plausible explanations before privileging one.
VISUAL ASSOCIATION AND NARRATIVE FRAMING
A notable feature of the documentary is the repeated appearance of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa whenever allegations are discussed.
The names Rajapaksa” and Rajapaksas” are repeatedly invoked throughout the programme – in fact 57 times
What effect does repeated visual association create?
Even where direct evidence is not being presented, repeated imagery can create an implicit connection in the viewer’s mind.
The issue is not whether such imagery is permissible.
The issue is whether it contributes to objective analysis or to narrative persuasion.
THE ABSENCE OF EQUAL SCRUTINY
Throughout the documentary, allegations made by Maulana are often explored in detail.
However, less attention appears to be devoted to testing those allegations against contrary evidence.
Examples include:
The February 2018 Meeting
Was evidence presented regarding:
Immigration records?
Travel records?
Mobile phone location data?
Construction timelines for the alleged venue?
The Easter Sunday Telephone Call
Was evidence presented regarding:
Telecom records?
Roaming records?
Call logs?
Device extractions?
The Alleged Conspiracy
Was evidence presented showing:
Financial transactions?
Operational communications?
Documentary instructions?
Direct links between alleged conspirators?
These are the kinds of objective records that would ordinarily be expected in support of such serious allegations.
THE QUESTION OF ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS
A recurring concern is whether alternative explanations received adequate attention.
The documentary largely focuses on a political motive.
However, the Easter Sunday attacks were also examined through other lenses, including:
Religious extremism.
ISIS-inspired radicalization.
International jihadist networks.
Domestic extremist recruitment.
Intelligence failures.
Institutional failures.
Questions arise:
Were these explanations explored proportionately?
Were they dismissed?
If dismissed, on what evidentiary basis?
The exclusion of alternative explanations can influence how viewers interpret the evidence presented.
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ALLEGATION AND FACT
One of the most important principles of investigative reporting is maintaining a clear distinction between:
Allegation
What a witness claims.
Evidence
What can be independently verified.
Conclusion
What can reasonably be established.
Throughout the documentary, viewers may reasonably ask whether these distinctions are always maintained.
For example:
Are allegations clearly identified as allegations?
Are inferences clearly identified as inferences?
Are viewers informed when claims remain unverified?
These distinctions are particularly important when allegations involve terrorism and state actors.
THE ISSUE OF CORROBORATION
Investigative journalism is strongest when multiple independent sources converge upon the same conclusion.
Questions arise:
Beyond Maulana, what independent corroboration exists?
Which allegations have been independently verified?
Which have been confirmed by documentary evidence?
Which have been supported by forensic evidence?
Which have been supported by judicial findings?
The strength of any investigation ultimately depends upon the strength of its corroboration.
WHAT STANDARD SHOULD APPLY?
The allegations contained in the documentary are among the most serious possible:
State involvement in terrorism.
Facilitation of mass murder.
Deliberate destabilization of a country.
Manipulation of democratic processes.
Given the gravity of such allegations, a high evidentiary threshold would ordinarily be expected.
Was that threshold met?
Were all claims independently verified?
Were contradictory facts adequately examined?
Were competing explanations fairly evaluated?
THE CENTRAL QUESTION
At the conclusion of the documentary, viewers are left with a fundamental question:
Has the documentary established its allegations through independently verified evidence?
Or
Has it primarily presented a theory supported by witness testimony, anonymous sources, and narrative interpretation?
The answer to that question is critical because it determines how the allegations should be viewed:
As established facts,
As investigative leads requiring further inquiry,
Or as unverified assertions that have yet to be tested through judicial and evidentiary scrutiny.
The Easter Sunday attacks remain one of the most tragic events in Sri Lanka’s history.
Any allegation regarding responsibility for those attacks deserves thorough investigation.
However, the seriousness of the allegations also demands rigorous standards of evidence, verification, corroboration, and fairness.
The central issue is therefore not whether questions should be asked.
Questions should always be asked.
The central issue is whether the answers presented are supported by evidence sufficient to transform allegations into established fact.
POTENTIAL DEFAMATION AND PREJUDICIAL NARRATIVE FORMATION IN HIGH-IMPACT ALLEGATIONS
Given the gravity of the allegations presented—ranging from state complicity in terrorism to orchestration of mass casualty events—it is essential to recognise the potential legal and reputational consequences of premature attribution.
Where allegations of this nature are presented without judicial findings or independently verified evidence, there is a risk of:
Irreversible reputational harm to named individuals.
Public perception forming guilt without legal determination.
Narrative construction replacing evidentiary proof.
Long-term damage to institutional credibility and individual standing.
In such contexts, the distinction between allegation and proven fact becomes not only a legal necessity but also a safeguard against unjustified reputational destruction.
Accordingly, allegations of this magnitude require a substantially higher evidentiary threshold than narrative inference or uncorroborated testimony.
The distinction between allegation and proof is fundamental.
Allegations of terrorism, conspiracy, and mass murder require evidence capable of withstanding forensic examination, cross-examination, and judicial scrutiny — not merely persuasive narrative framing.
Investigative journalism plays an important role in democratic societies. But the greater the allegation, the greater the responsibility to ensure balance, corroboration, and evidentiary rigor.
The central question therefore remains:
Has Channel 4 established its claims through independently verified evidence — or primarily through witness allegations and narrative interpretation?
Until such allegations are tested through transparent legal and evidentiary processes, they remain matters requiring investigation, not established fact.
The victims of Easter Sunday deserve truth grounded in evidence, not conclusions formed through presumption and kangaroo courts.
The Cardinal’s demand that Shani Abeysekera and Ravi Seneviratna, despite their being under a cloud about the Easter Sunday suicide bombings, be tasked to conduct fresh probes into them in order to track down an alleged mahamolakaru or mastermind, is even more ironical in view of the close relationship that Gotabaya Rajapaksa maintained with the Catholic Church, especially his friendly connection with the Cardinal, from the time he was Secretary of Defence, all of which he describes in his book on pages 93 to 96. He helped the Church in various ways. After the war, he helped with the restoration and reconstruction of the Madhu Church and the Church in Mullikulam, and the renovation of the Kochchikade Church. The Benedict XVI Catholic Institution of Higher Education at Bolawalana, a brainchild of Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, was established in 2015. Gotabaya got the Navy to design and construct the buildings, and the Urban Development Authority, and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (presently called the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation) to grade the land as it was a flood prone area. But when the construction of the institution was completed, Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost and his government was gone. The Catholic Higher Education institution was opened by the new president Maithripala Sirisena. But the Cardinal invited Gotabaya to the opening ceremony, where he made special mention of the latter as the one who helped complete the project.
The most significant point in Gotabaya’s relationship with the Church was when the Pope (Pope Francis) was invited to visit Sri Lanka. As normal, the papal visit took about two years of preparation. During this period Gotabaya became very close to the Cardinal. When the visit finally took place, the Rajapaksas were out of power. The Cardinal arranged a special audience with the Pope for ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya at the house of the Papal Nuncio in Colombo. Gotabaya’s personal relationship with the Cardinal remained during the yahapalana years. He and his wife would occasionally be invited to dinner with the Cardinal.
When Gotabaya made a courtesy call on the Cardinal within the first few days of his assumption of office as President in November 2019, the latter urged him to take legal action against those who were responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks regardless of their status,or their ethnic or religious identity. Asked whether he was satisfied with the composition of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by his predecessor president Maithripala Sirisena or whether he wanted one of his own nominees to be included in the Commission, the Cardinal answered in the negative.
In September 2020, the Cardinal invited president Gotabaya to visit a large coconut estate in the Puttlam District owned by the Colombo Diocese. The Catholic Church had grown grapes there for producing wine for its own use. The Cardinal took the president for a tour of the vineyard and the winery. They also had a poultry farm on the estate. After serving lunch, president Gotabaya opened a new building for an agro-technical institute built using funds provided by the government of Italy. It was designed for training 50 residential students. They also went to see a village that cultivated up-country vegetables.
Although president Gotabaya spent the whole day with the Cardinal that day, the latter did not bring up the Easter Sunday investigations matter for discussion. He seemed satisfied with the way the terror attack investigations were being conducted. On a later occasion, the prelate explicitly stated his confidence that the investigating process would deliver justice and his conviction that the Presidential Commission was sincerely looking into the matter.
This was on September 22, 2020. The Cardinal was addressing the media at the end of an event at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress in Colombo. Gotabaya thinks that the first instance that apparently upset the Cardinal was the Criminal Investigation Department’s release, in early October 2020, of Riyaj Bathiudeen (brother of MP Rishad Bathiuddeen) who had been arrested, about five months before, on April 14 over alleged links to the Easter Sunday attacks. In a special media briefing held at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo, the Cardinal expressed a suspicion that ‘a political deal’ could be behind the CID’s release of Riyaj Bathiudeen. He highlighted the contradiction between SSP Jaliya Senaratne’s earlier revelation based on investigations into the carnage that this person had maintained direct links with the bombers and his discharge by the CID.
Responding to this allegation, (the then President) Gotabaya stated in an FB post that the government had not entered into any political deal with parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother Riyaj and that arresting or releasing criminal suspects was not the task of politicians. Gotabaya also adds (in his account on pp. 93-96) that the then State Minister of Security and Home Affairs Chamal Rajapaksa, in reply to a question posed by an opposition MP, stated that Riyaj Bathiudeen had been taken into custody over seven telephone conversations he had with Insaf Ahmed, the bomber who attacked the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, but that investigations had not revealed his direct involvement in the suicide bombings.
(Aside: Readers will remember that this is a special case. Insaf Ahmed Ibrahim was the elder of a brother duo of suicide bombers; his younger brother Ilham Ahmed Ibrahim bombed Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. They were both rich businessmen with a good educational background, sons of a wealthy spice merchant, Yusuf Mohammed Ibrahim. When police raided their house for searching, Ilham’s wife detonated a suicide vest killing herself and her two children. This information is from AI – RRW)
According to Gotabaya, the CID had released Riyaj Bathiudeen without producing him before a Magistrate. As President, Gotabaya writes, he did not have anything to do with suspect Riyaj’s arrest or release. ‘Later, the then Attorney General Dappula de Livera summoned the DIG in charge of the CID and its Chief Investigating Officer over the release of Riyaj Bathiudeen’. As a result of this meeting, the AG noted deficiencies in the investigations against the suspect. Consequently, the CID Director was transferred out with the approval of the National Police Commission.
(So, this is the truth about the then CID chief SSP Shani Abeysekera’s alleged ‘arbitrary’ transfer in November 2020 that the Opposition and NGO human rights activists made such a hue and cry. – RRW)
SJB parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardane had a meeting with the Cardinal in early December 2020, where the Cardinal expressed the idea that if the government (that is, the minority government set up under Gotabaya soon after he won the election in November 2019) failed to punish those responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings, an alternative course of action would have to be sought. The Cardinal said that though many suspects had been arrested, the investigations were not reliable, and that this case must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet as a result of political machinations or deals.
Gotabaya was invited to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the Benedict XVI Catholic Institution of Higher Education. He was presented with a memento in appreciation of his services towards the establishment of the Catholic Institution of Higher Education.
Why would the Cardinal get Shani and Ravi to hound Gotabaya? Does the Cardinal still believe the absurd theory that the Easter bombings were caused to create instability in the country so as to bring Gotabaya to power, as claimed by Azad Maulana in the Channel 4 video? To put it differently, does he believe that Gotabaya or a devoted ally was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage? Is this the Cardinal whom I (RRW) so passionately defended in an article under the title ‘In strong defence of Cardinal: Attacks on Cardinal outrageous and unacceptable’ originally published in The Island on December 9, 2020, and subsequently on the online Lankaweb and Sri Lanka Guardian? I have made frequent laudatory references to the Cardinal since. Of course, the Cardinal is a man of grace and culture. He might have seen the light by now and understood the insanity of going after Gotabaya about the Easter Sunday bombings.
However, in his short account of the complicated plot that was behind his ouster, Gotabaya mentions the fact that the Cardinal found it difficult to believe that a group of Muslim youth could have carried out the coordinated multiple bombings of such proportions ‘on their own’ (p.140). This was one reason that led him to assume that there was a mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks.
Gotabaya writes about the insanity of blaming him for what was confirmed by reputable foreign and domestic intelligence agencies to be an ISIS atrocity. He recalls how, when President Premadasa was assassinated (on the May Day in 1993), a conspiracy theory arose according to which Premadasa himself had planned to bomb his own procession so as to gain public sympathy; he had taken out a white handkerchief to cue the bomber, but something went wrong, and he was killed in the explosion. As for President Premadasa, he was blamed for things that happened while he was in power, says Gotabaya, whereas he himself is being blamed for things that happened when he was not in power. This insanity is not going to bode well for this country. When the then Minister of Justice (Wijedasa Rajapaksa) made his first revelation in Parliament about the spread of Muslim extremism in 2016, many Muslim politicians accused him of being anti-Muslim. Now those same politicians are busily promoting this conspiracy theory that Zaharan and his team had launched suicide attacks to make me President. Some Muslim politicians are trying to promote the view that the suicide bombings had nothing to do with Islam, but everything to do with local politics. The only thing that has not yet been said is that the suicide bombers themselves were not Muslim but Sinhala Buddhists.
In the wake of the release of the Presidential Commission report, the threat of Islamic extremism has been completely forgotten in the midst of a headlong quest to hold everyone except Muslim extremists responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks. The Cardinal’s pronouncements are creating more divisions in an already divided country. The icing on the cake will be when the Cardinal’s campaign based on wrong assumptions and conjecture against those not responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings results in yet another government that is totally dependent on the Muslim vote like the government of 2015-2019 and is unwilling to do anything to stop the spread of Islamic extremism in the country.” (p.141)
A maulavi speaking (probably at the end of the national memorial service led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith at the St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade on April 21, 2026; the video I watched on YouTube didn’t give exact information about the venue) seemed to confirm the truth of Gotabaya’s blunt comments. The maulavi addressed the gathering as a member of the ‘victimised group’ (agathiyatapath parshavaya), by which he meant the Christian and Muslim communities as a single body (How few mainstream Christians and Muslims – free from extremism – are likely to share his view is a different matter). The implicit oppressor is the Sinhalese Buddhist majority.
The maulavi named some books that he claimed he had read (with obvious scepticism) about the Easter Sunday attacks, including Gotabaya’s book The Conspiracy and Rohan Gunaratna’s Easter Sunday Massacre, and Udaya Gammanpila’s Searching for the Easter Attack Mastermind, and mentioned their prices, implying that the authors wanted only to earn some money by writing about the carnage. He said that the Christians and Catholics were rendered helpless, and the Muslims, even more so.
We (Muslims) were pressed to the wall (as punishment) for reciting the noblest verse (uttareetara gathava) la ilaha illallah – muhammadan rasulullah (There is no god but Allah – Mohammed is His Messenger). Some media supported it (i.e., the anti Muslim attitude). Just as once all Tamils were labelled ‘terrorists’, in the wake of the Easter attacks, we (Muslims) were condemned as religious extremists and terrorists.”
The maulavi blamed the microbiologist who had recommended the cremation of bodies of Covid 19 deceased Muslims against the wishes of their relatives. (But she was acting as per WHO instructions considering local conditions, regarding the disposal of bodies of Covid dead) He begged the President for the list of names of Muslims dead whose bodies were cremated thus against the wishes of relatives for (intended) litigation purposes.
The maulavi further said: The Easter Sunday attack has become a joke. Once they marketed the war (the war against separatism) or did politics exploiting the war.”
We fight for justice. We die for justice”
He hoped justice would be served soon/without delay.
He concluded his address with the Dhammapada lines (from Verse 21):
”Appamado amata padam – pamado machchuno padam”
(the correct translation is: Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless state – Heedlessness is the path to Death)
The maulavi seemed to have completely missed the profound meaning of the Dhammapada lines. He has accepted the misleading translation of appamado as ‘delay’ instead of the correct ‘heedfulness’ or ‘mindfulness’ or ‘diligence’. Unfortunately, some modern English versions of the Dhammapada found on the internet interpret the Pali term ‘appamado’ of Verse 21 as exclusively meaning ‘delay’, trivialising its deep philosophical import.
The maulavi’s unwarranted bluster and his macabre ultimatum to the President must have deeply embarrassed the Cardinal and upset the grieving audience in that sacred place.
In an unconstitutional statement in parliament on May 21, 2026 (last Thursday), ITAK parliamentarian Thurairasa Ravikaran paid a tribute to a dead separatist leader by the name of Balraj. He called him ‘Brigadier’ Balraj, According to Arun Siddharth of the Jaffna Civil Society organisation, who unequivocally condemned Ravikaran’s move as a violation of the oath the MP had taken not to espouse the cause of setting up a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka, said that Balraj had the blood of over 1000 soldiers of the lawful Sri Lanka’s state army killed in the North in the year 2000. Arun Siddharth pointed out that the title Brigadier Ravikaran arbitrarily conferred on the terrorist was an insult to the officers of that rank in the lawful Sri Lanka state army. He expressed his deepest scorn for all the 225 MPs of the Government and the Opposition for not opposing or calling into question Ravikaran’s seditious act; they should have at least demanded the Speaker for a ruling to expunge the MP’s unlawful tribute to a dead terrorist leader from the Hansard.
The survival of our nation depends on the unconditional peace and unity between Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus to begin with, who are cultural twins.
Child sexual abuse has become an urgent concern, with a troubling number of children subjected to physical and sexual abuse within religious institutions. In recent decades, reports of such misconduct have emerged across various faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Often, those in leadership roles within these organizations have either hidden the incidents or used their authority to impede investigations, allowing the perpetrators to get away.
The Ill Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
Child abuse, particularly in the form of sexual abuse, has profound and far-reaching consequences not only for the individual victims but also for society as a whole. Victims of such abuse often endure severe psychological trauma, which can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These mental health issues can hinder their ability to form healthy relationships, pursue education, and maintain stable employment in adulthood, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage. Furthermore, the societal implications are equally alarming; communities may face increased healthcare costs, a rise in crime rates, drug abuse, self-harm and a strain on social services as they attempt to support affected individuals.
The Vatican’s Handling of Child Sexual Abuse Cases
The Vatican’s handling of child sexual abuse allegations has been a subject of intense scrutiny and controversy over the years. Numerous reports have emerged detailing how the Church has often prioritized its reputation and institutional integrity over the welfare of victims. Investigations have revealed a pattern of cover-ups, where clergy members accused of abuse were frequently reassigned to different parishes rather than facing legal consequences. This practice not only allowed perpetrators to continue their predatory behaviour but also left countless victims without justice or support. The Vatican’s response to these allegations has often been criticized as insufficient, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability within the Church.
The Revelation by NBC News
An extensive investigation by NBC News has revealed a disturbing 50-year history of sexual abuse, enforced silence, and systematic cover-ups within the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination globally. This inquiry has led to allegations against nearly 200 pastors and church leaders, who are accused of perpetrating abuse against more than 475 victims, with a significant number being children. Alarmingly, in numerous instances, church authorities were aware of the abusive behavior yet chose to transfer these individuals to new roles of authority, thereby facilitating the continuation of such heinous acts.
Child Sexual Abuse by Pastor Robert Morris
The prominent child sexual abuse case involving Robert Morris, the founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has unveiled a troubling history of institutional cover-up within one of the largest megachurches in the United States. The abuse began on Christmas night in 1982 when a 21-year-old Morris, then a traveling evangelist, exploited 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire while staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Over the next four years, Morris groomed and manipulated Clemishire, who eventually disclosed the abuse to her parents and church leaders at the age of 17 in 1987. Unfortunately, the church opted for internal handling of the situation, allowing Morris to return to ministry after brief periods of “restoration” without involving law enforcement. It wasn’t until June 2024 that Clemishire publicly shared her story through an independent religious watchdog report, prompting Morris’s resignation from Gateway Church. Following a thorough investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, Morris was indicted by a grand jury and, on October 2, 2025, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. As part of a plea agreement, he received a 10-year suspended sentence and was taken into custody immediately after the hearing.
Kumbakonam Hindu Kovil Child Sexual Abuse Case
In recent years, there have been troubling reports of child sexual abuse incidents occurring within Hindu temples, with a particularly notable case emerging in 2026 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. A 75-year-old temple priest, Viswanatha Iyer, was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl inside a temple in Thiruvalanchuzhi. The incident reportedly took place when the girl visited the temple with her family for darshan and later approached the offertory box alone, where the priest is said to have misbehaved with her. Following a thorough investigation, police confirmed the validity of the allegations, leading to the priest’s arrest under the appropriate legal provisions.
The Death of a 13-year-old Student- M.S. Musab
The Sainthamaruthu Madrasa Case, which unfolded in the Ampara District, centers around the tragic death of a 13-year-old student, M.S. Musab, whose body was discovered in the washroom of a private Madrasa with hostel facilities. Initially reported as a suicide by the school, the situation escalated when local residents, driven by deep suspicion, conducted a raid on the premises. A judicial medical examination later determined that Musab had died from strangulation and respiratory distress, leading to a murder investigation. The Principal, known as Moulavi, was subsequently arrested following allegations of a troubling history of complaints against him.
Pahalagama Somaratana Case
Pahalagama Somaratana Thera, a well-known Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, was convicted in the United Kingdom for sexually abusing a young girl. In May 2012, the Isleworth Crown Court in London found him guilty of four counts of indecent assault, although he was acquitted of a separate charge of rape. The court sentenced him to seven years in prison and required him to register as a sex offender for life, barring him from working with children. Despite this, Somaratana has returned to Sri Lanka, where he operates a temple and a Sunday school for children, while local authorities appear to overlook his status as a registered sex offender.
Naotunne Vijitha
Naotunne Vijitha, a prominent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, was convicted by an Australian jury for multiple historical offenses of child sexual abuse. He arrived in Australia in 1994 to lead the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Temple in Melbourne, which was established by the local Sri Lankan community and included a significant Sunday school program for children. The abuse occurred over eight years from 1994 to 2002, initially at the temple’s original location in Springvale and later at a new facility in Keysborough. Six young female victims, aged between 4 and 12 at the time, testified that Vijitha exploited his spiritual authority to manipulate them, using sweets to lure them into private areas where the abuse took place. Following years of silence, the victims reported their experiences to Victoria Police, resulting in Vijitha’s arrest in August 2023. On October 30, 2025, the jury found him guilty of the charges.
The Case of Pallegama Hemarathna
The case of Pallegama Hemarathna revolves around the arrest and prosecution of the 71-year-old Chief Prelate of the Atamastana, who faces serious allegations of sexually abusing a 15-year-old minor. The investigation began when the National Child Protection Authority and the Nittambuwa Police uncovered the alleged abuse while looking into a separate complaint about the minor’s abduction on March 6, 2026. During this inquiry, the victim disclosed a troubling pattern of sexual abuse involving the chief monk. On May 8, 2026, the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered the immediate arrest of both the monk and the girl’s mother. On May 22, 2026, he was granted bail by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court, with conditions that included a cash bail of Rs. 100,000, two sureties of Rs. 5 million each, and a strict prohibition on foreign travel.
The Anatomy of Abuse
The troubling issue of sexual abuse of children by clergy across various faiths raises profound questions about the underlying factors that contribute to such heinous acts. One significant aspect is the power dynamics inherent in religious institutions, where clergy often hold positions of authority and trust, creating an environment that can be exploited. This power can lead to a sense of entitlement, where individuals may believe they are above accountability. Additionally, the culture of silence and secrecy that often pervades religious organizations can further enable such behaviour, as victims may feel discouraged from coming forward due to fear of retribution or disbelief. Furthermore, inadequate oversight and a lack of robust safeguarding measures can leave vulnerable individuals unprotected.
The Urgent Need for Child Safeguarding in Religious Organizations
The pressing necessity for child safeguarding within religious organizations cannot be overstated, as these institutions often serve as pivotal community hubs where trust and vulnerability intersect. To effectively protect children, it is essential for these organizations to implement comprehensive protective measures that encompass a range of strategies. This includes establishing clear policies that define acceptable behavior and outline procedures for reporting and addressing allegations of abuse. Training programs for staff and volunteers are crucial, ensuring that all individuals working with children are equipped with the knowledge to recognize and respond to potential risks. Additionally, creating a culture of transparency and accountability is vital; this can be achieved by involving parents and community members in safeguarding initiatives and maintaining open lines of communication. Regular audits and assessments of safeguarding practices can further enhance the effectiveness of these measures, ensuring that they evolve in response to emerging challenges. Ultimately, a robust safeguarding framework not only protects children but also reinforces the integrity and trustworthiness of religious organizations in the eyes of their communities.
To undo the global-scale injustice regarding the authorship of the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS), Sri Lanka and the inventor, Colombo-based lawyer Senaka Weeraratna, have several legal, diplomatic, and institutional remedies available. [1, 2]
The controversy stems from a flawed legal opinion by former ICC legal counsel David Becker, which claimed the ICC was unaware of Weeraratna’s 1997 “Player Referral” concept and that publishing it openly waived his rights. This opinion completely overlooked the established legal doctrine of Constructive Notice—given that Weeraratna extensively publicized the four core pillars of the DRS across global media nine years before the ICC acted. [1, 2]
Because the ICC has admitted it holds no official copyright or named author for the DRS, Sri Lanka can deploy the following multi-tiered strategy to claim intellectual property recognition and compensation. [1, 2]
1. International Sports Arbitration
The most direct mechanism to challenge the ICC’s flawed legal position outside of its internal committees is through independent sports bodies. [1]
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS): Sri Lanka can push to submit the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. If both parties agree to arbitration, a panel can evaluate the timeline of Weeraratna’s 1997 publications against the ICC’s 2006 framework to rule on economic and moral copyrights.
Independent Commission of Inquiry: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) can demand that the ICC Board set up an independent tribunal or commission to review the evidence of prior art and authorship, rather than relying on a singular defense lawyer’s opinion. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
2. State-Level Diplomatic and Legislative Action
The Sri Lankan government can step in to elevate this from a private dispute to a matter of national intellectual property protection. [1, 2]
Government Intervention: The President and the Ministry of Sports can formally back Weeraratna’s claim, putting state-level pressure on the ICC during bilateral cricket negotiations.
The “User Pays” Framework: Sri Lanka can champion the legal principle of the “User Pays” system for sports innovations. Because the player referral concept is now used globally across cricket, tennis, and football (VAR), a state-backed framework can demand a standardized royalty model. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
3. Legal Actions for Copyright Infringement
Though the ICC argues that an unpatented “idea” cannot be protected, Weeraratna’s claims rely heavily on modern copyright laws. [1, 2]
Enforcement of Moral Rights: Under global copyright treaties (such as the Berne Convention), an author retains the moral right to attribution even if no patent was filed. Sri Lanka can fund a lawsuit arguing that the ICC violated these moral rights by failing to name Weeraratna as the conceptual composer of the system.
Proving Access via Constructive Notice: In a court of law, Weeraratna’s legal team can demonstrate that because his work was widely published in dominant cricket nations (like The Australian in 1997), the ICC committee members had constructive access to his exact four-pillar framework before developing their system. [1, 2, 3, 4]
4. Global Public Campaign and Naming Rights
If the ICC relies on legal technicalities to avoid financial payout, Sri Lanka can target the ICC’s public image and the “Spirit of Cricket”. [1, 2]
The “Weeraratna Referral System” Campaign: Just as the rain-affected rule is officially named the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, Sri Lanka and its global allies can campaign to formally rename the system the Weeraratna Decision Review System (WDRS).
Exploiting the Lack of Counter-Claimants: Because no other individual or body has claimed authorship of the player-initiated review concept, a concerted media push by former players and cricket historians can force the ICC into a public settlement to preserve its institutional integrity. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Next Logical Step: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must formally reject the validity of the David Becker legal opinion and table a resolution at the next ICC Board Meeting demanding the dispute be jointly referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
During my routine early morning walk along the Kimbulawala walking path , I keep noticing heap of garbage on both sides of the Madiwela road for several weeks
Irony is one heap lies next to the police post for weeks
Often I see the two young cops looking at the mobiles ignoring my kind polite request as a senior citizen to do something
I requested them to charge the violators or even get Local authority ( Maharagama ) to collect the garbage and clear the drains
They said what can we do ?”People do not listen to us
Proposal for Facilitation of Betting & Gaming License Approvals in Sri Lanka
As Sri Lanka seeks new avenues for foreign direct investment, tourism growth, and foreign exchange earnings, the development of a regulated betting and gaming industry within the Colombo Port City framework deserves serious consideration.
Global gaming hubs such as Macau, Singapore, and certain Caribbean island jurisdictions have successfully transformed gaming and entertainment into major economic drivers. Sri Lanka, strategically located in the Indian Ocean and positioned between the Middle East and Asia, has the potential to develop a carefully regulated gaming and digital entertainment ecosystem targeting international markets.
The Colombo Port City project offers a unique opportunity to establish a special regulatory and financial zone for online gaming, betting technology services, and integrated entertainment resorts. With modern infrastructure, international connectivity, and tax incentives, Port City can attract global operators, software developers, payment service providers, and foreign professionals.
Expatriates and international gaming technology specialists could be encouraged to establish operational offices in Sri Lanka, creating high-value employment opportunities in IT, cybersecurity, finance, compliance, customer support, and digital marketing. This could also stimulate demand for luxury apartments, hospitality services, and international schools within the Port City ecosystem.
Sri Lanka already possesses several advantages:
Strong telecommunications infrastructure
A growing IT workforce
Strategic time zone advantages
Competitive operational costs
Access to South Asian markets
The banking sector also appears to recognize the emerging digital gaming economy. The early involvement of major financial institutions such as Commercial Bank indicates that regulated financial channels may already be preparing for increased digital transaction volumes linked to entertainment and gaming platforms.
However, any expansion of betting and gaming activities must be accompanied by strict governance and regulatory oversight. A modern framework should include:
Licensing and compliance systems
Anti-money laundering controls
Age verification mechanisms
Responsible gaming policies
Tax transparency
Cybersecurity monitoring
Sri Lanka must avoid becoming an unregulated offshore gambling haven. Instead, the country should position itself as a professionally regulated, technology-driven gaming jurisdiction similar to Singapore or Macau, balancing economic opportunity with social responsibility.
Ps
If managed carefully, the gaming and betting sector could become part of Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to diversify exports, attract foreign investment, create digital employment, and strengthen Colombo’s role as a regional financial and entertainment hub.
I personally do not agree because I push for physical development of Trinco and port city for offshore and marine industry
The online casino and gambling sector in Sri Lanka has been growing quietly but rapidly over the last decade, driven by smartphone penetration, digital payments, tourism, and weak regulatory enforcement in cyberspace. While traditional gambling was once limited mainly to physical casinos in Colombo targeting tourists,specifically chinese and Indians online betting and gaming have now become accessible to ordinary Sri Lankans through mobile apps and offshore websites.
Why the Industry Is Growing
Smartphone and Internet Expansion
Sri Lanka now has widespread smartphone usage and relatively affordable mobile internet. Young people can easily access:
Sports betting
Online casinos
Slot games
Cricket betting
Live dealer roulette and blackjack
Fantasy sports
Crypto gambling platforms
Many offshore operators aggressively advertise through:
Facebook
YouTube
Telegram
WhatsApp groups
Influencer marketing
Cricket betting especially expanded during IPL, ICC tournaments, and Lanka Premier League seasons.
Weak Regulatory Structure
Sri Lanka’s gambling laws were written mainly for physical casinos and betting houses, not digital gambling.
Existing legal framework includes:
Gambling Ordinance
Casino Business Regulation Act
Inland Revenue taxation provisions
But enforcement struggles because:
Most online gambling sites are hosted overseas
Payments move through foreign gateways or crypto
VPNs bypass blocks
Local affiliates market foreign operators
This creates a grey economy” where the activity exists openly but is not comprehensively regulated.
Tourism and Casino Expansion
Physical casinos in Colombo also fuel interest in gambling culture.
Major casino-linked developments have been proposed around:
Colombo Port City
Luxury hotel complexes
Integrated entertainment resorts
Supporters argue casinos can attract:
Indian tourists
High-net-worth gamblers
Conference and entertainment visitors
Critics fear:
Money laundering
Organized crime influence
Social harm
Debt and addiction
Capital flight
India’s tightening regulations in some states may indirectly push more gambling traffic toward regional hubs including Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Rise of Digital Payment Systems
Online gambling became easier through:
International cards
E-wallets
Crypto assets
Informal payment agents
Some operators use local intermediaries to collect deposits and payouts, making tracking difficult.
Authorities are increasingly concerned about:
Undeclared foreign exchange outflows
Tax leakage
Illegal remittances
Cyber fraud
Cricket Betting Culture
Cricket is the biggest gateway into gambling in South Asia.
Many users begin with:
IPL betting
Toss betting
Ball-by-ball betting
Fantasy leagues
This normalizes online wagering among younger users.
Regional betting syndicates linked to South Asian networks often operate through:
Messaging apps
Informal agents
Offshore websites
Economic Arguments
Supporters claim regulated gambling could:
Generate tax revenue
Boost tourism
Create entertainment sector jobs
Bring foreign exchange
Formalize existing underground activity
Countries like:
Singapore
Philippines
Macau have built regulated casino economies with strict oversight.
Some policymakers see Colombo Port City as a potential regional entertainment and gaming hub competing with Dubai, Singapore, and Goa.
Social Concerns
Critics warn of serious risks:
Gambling addiction
Family financial collapse
Youth exposure
Loan shark activity
Cybercrime
Match-fixing risks in sports
Money laundering
Religious and cultural groups in Sri Lanka also strongly oppose expansion of gambling activities.
The social cost can become significant if regulation and public education lag behind industry growth.
Possible Future Direction
Sri Lanka may eventually move toward:
Licensing online operators
Taxing digital gambling revenue
Stronger anti-money laundering oversight
Age verification systems
Consumer protection laws
Restrictions on advertising
Monitoring crypto-linked gambling
The challenge is balancing:
Revenue generation
Tourism ambitions
Social protection
Financial integrity
Without proper regulation, the sector could continue growing as a large untaxed shadow economy tied to offshore networks.
A broader debate is emerging about whether Sri Lanka should:
Completely restrict online gambling,
tolerate it informally,
or regulate and tax it transparently as a controlled industry.
The recent announcement that Adani has commissioned one of the world’s largest battery energy storage systems in India once again reminds Sri Lanka of the scale, speed, and ambition with which Indian conglomerates are moving into the future of energy, ports, logistics, and infrastructure.
For Sri Lankans, however, the name Adani” immediately brings mixed emotions.
When the Mannar wind power project was proposed, many environmentalists, professionals, and concerned citizens raised genuine objections. One major concern was the possible disturbance to migratory bird routes between Mannar and Kalpitiya, an internationally significant ecological corridor. Sri Lanka cannot afford to ignore environmental consequences in the rush for development. A small island nation with fragile ecosystems must think carefully before approving large-scale industrial projects.
Yet at the same time, we must also ask ourselves a difficult question:
Can Sri Lanka survive economically without strategic partnerships with powerful neighbors like India?
Whether we like it or not, India today is not merely a neighboring country. It is becoming an economic force extending its reach across Asia and Africa through investments in energy, ports, logistics, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing. Indian companies are operating almost like economic states themselves, with access to capital, technology, political backing, and global influence.
Naturally, many Sri Lankans fear Indian hegemony. History, geography, and politics make such fears understandable. But fear alone cannot build a nation.
Sri Lanka is currently struggling with debt, low industrial productivity, weak exports, and lack of large-scale investments. While we debate endlessly, others move ahead with execution. The world will not wait for Sri Lanka to settle its internal arguments.
History itself teaches us that Sri Lanka’s destiny has always been linked with India in one form or another. Legend says Prince Vijaya arrived from India and altered the course of civilization on this island. Over centuries, trade, religion, culture, language, and commerce flowed between the two nations. Today, economic integration may become the next chapter in that long relationship.
Instead of emotionally rejecting every Indian investment, Sri Lanka should negotiate intelligently, protect national interests firmly, and extract maximum value from such partnerships.
If properly managed, Indian investments can create jobs, transfer technology, improve infrastructure, and revive industries that Sri Lanka alone currently lacks the financial strength to develop.
Take the example of Colombo Dockyard. With Japanese collaboration and now growing Indian participation, the yard is expanding shipbuilding and repair activities. The Indian Ocean is rapidly becoming one of the busiest maritime regions in the world. Sri Lanka sits at the center of it geographically, but geography alone brings no wealth unless supported by industrial capability.
Very soon, Mattala Airport may also attract Indian involvement. Critics may object, but the real question is this: do we prefer abandoned assets and empty terminals, or productive economic activity generating employment and foreign exchange?
For years, I have argued that Trincomalee should become Sri Lanka’s marine and industrial hub. Few natural harbors in the world can match Trincomalee. It has the potential to become a center for ship repair, offshore engineering, bunkering, renewable energy, marine logistics, fisheries, and even green hydrogen production. But dreams require investment. Investment requires confidence. Confidence requires political stability and clear policy direction.
While foreign investors are ready to enter, many Sri Lankan business leaders still appear more interested in prestige consumption than nation-building.
Recently I noted a Sri Lankan company expanding aggressively into milk production, reducing dependency on imported dairy products. That is the kind of industrial thinking Sri Lanka needs.
Why cannot leading Sri Lankan entrepreneurs — people like Dudley Sirisena, Nipuna Ranatunga, and Dhammika Perera or others with financial strength — come together to develop strategic sectors of the economy?
Why must corporate success always end with luxury vehicles, helicopters, imported lifestyles, and expensive hobbies, while the country itself struggles to industrialize?
Sri Lanka urgently needs a new generation of industrial patriotism.
We need business leaders willing to invest in manufacturing, shipbuilding, food security, marine engineering, renewable energy, vocational training, and export industries. The private sector must think beyond quarterly profits and status symbols.
Foreign investors — whether Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, or Western — should not be viewed as enemies. They should be treated as partners under carefully negotiated national frameworks that protect Sri Lankan sovereignty, environment, labor, and strategic interests.
The real danger to Sri Lanka is not foreign investment.
The real danger is indecision, underutilized national assets, political paralysis, and our inability to think strategically in a rapidly changing world.
Sri Lanka cannot become Singapore overnight. But it can certainly become a dynamic Indian Ocean industrial and logistics hub if it combines local entrepreneurship with foreign capital and technology.
The opportunity is in front of us. The question is whether we have the courage, maturity, and vision to seize it before others move ahead without us.
For centuries, the destruction of Nalanda University has symbolized the tragic decline of Buddhism in India. But Nalanda was not the only great center of learning lost to history. In this documentary, we explore the forgotten story of Odantapuri Mahavihara — one of ancient India’s oldest Buddhist universities — its rise, significance, scholars, and the devastating invasion led by Bakhtiyar Khilji that changed the intellectual landscape of Asia forever.
The Legacy Credits: User:Haros based on map created by user:Planemad, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Odantapuribs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Odantapuribs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Sumitsurai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Odantapuribs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bodhisattva explores the history of Odantapuri, a powerful 8th-century center of learning established by the Pala dynasty. This institution functioned within a vast network of Buddhist universities, playing a critical role in shaping intellectual thought and monastic traditions across Asia before its sudden decline.
