The Colombo District Court on Tuesday refused a request for an order directing Sri Lanka cricketer Chamika Karunaratne to provide a blood sample for a DNA test, in a paternity case being heard before it.
The application was made during proceedings on a plaint filed by airline pilot Rasika Sewwandi, who is seeking a court order directing the Registrar General to issue a birth certificate naming Karunaratne as the father of her child.
Delivering the order, Colombo District Court Judge Lalith Kannangara held that the plaintiff had not established sufficient grounds to justify compelling the cricketer to provide a blood sample for DNA analysis. The request was accordingly rejected.
The court did not dismiss the underlying case. It ordered that the matter be called again on October 9 for further proceedings.
Jagath Wickramanayake PC, with Niranjala Gunathilaka instructed by Ramzi Bacha Associates, appeared for Karunaratne. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC appeared for Sewwandi.
Chamika Karunaratne is a seam-bowling all-rounder who has represented Sri Lanka across all three international formats.
Tuesday’s ruling concerns a civil claim and carries no criminal finding. The court has made no determination on the question of paternity itself, which remains before it.