A legal controversy has emerged involving Sri Lankan cricketer Chamika Karunaratne following a lawsuit filed by a woman alleging that he is the father of her two-month-old child. The plaintiff has petitioned the court for a DNA test and is seeking maintenance, citing the cricketer’s alleged failure to meet his parental responsibilities.
According to the plaintiff, Karunaratne has refused to acknowledge paternity or allow his name to be used for the child. She asserts that her decision to file the lawsuit stems from his continued refusal to accept accountability.
The woman alleged that Chamika Karunaratne has been actively evading legal proceedings, noting that he failed to appear in court recently, citing claims of ill health. She further alleged that this pattern of avoidance is not new; she claims she was previously made to wait for several days at the Women and Child Affairs Bureau while she was pregnant, and that the difficulty has persisted since the birth of the child.
Addressing her motivation for the lawsuit, the woman emphasized that her primary concern is the social standing and legitimacy of her child. She stated that the child needs to live in Sri Lanka and she is unwilling to let the child be stigmatized as illegitimate.
Regarding the relief sought, the plaintiff clarified that she is not pursuing large financial compensation. Instead, she maintains that she only expects Karunaratne to fulfill his obligations “as a man” and meet his professional and paternal duties.
The case will be taken up on 8 December. The lawyer appeared for Karunaratne informed the court that his client could not present before the court as he is sick these days. The lawyer said Karunaratne will appear before the court for the next hearing.
Karunaratne has not responded to the allegations so far.
