A woman has filed a petition in the Colombo District Court seeking a legal declaration that Sri Lanka cricketer Chamika Karunaratne is the father of her child.
The petitioner, Sewwandi Senadheera, has requested the court to recognise Karunaratne as the father of her minor son, Aryan Karunaratne, who was born on 29 September 2025. She has also sought an order directing the issuance of a birth certificate confirming the child’s paternity and a court directive for a DNA test to establish the claim.
Karunaratne has denied the allegation. The petition was filed after he allegedly refused to undergo a DNA test to prove his innocence.
In the case, Karunaratne, the child and the Registrar General have been named as respondents.
The legal action follows an earlier private complaint heard at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 8 December last year. Appearing for the complainant, counsel Jerusha Thambiah told court that the child was born following a sexual relationship between the cricketer and her client.
Senadheera has alleged that Karunaratne maintained a close relationship with her around 2023 and later refused to acknowledge paternity after she became pregnant.
However, Karunaratne’s counsel, Asela Rekawa, rejected the allegation in court, stating that his client denies being the child’s father. The lawyer further claimed that the complainant had maintained a relationship with an Indian national during the period in question and submitted a photograph to support the claim.
The lawyer also argued that the Magistrate’s Court does not have the authority to order a DNA test. During the earlier hearing, the cricketer was released on bail.
Paternity declaration cases fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. According to previous Court of Appeal rulings in Sri Lanka, DNA testing is considered one of the strongest forms of evidence in determining paternity.
The Colombo District Court considered the petition on 10 March and ordered notices to be issued to the respondents. The case is scheduled to be taken up again on 31 March.
