Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Did cult group 'Born Again's influence lead to Sri Lanka's WT20 debacle? SLC panel finds evidence 'inconclusive'

The Born Again Movement or B.A.M., or Word of Life Church, or All Ranges Church (“Total Scope Church”) of China is a Christian religious movement founded by Peter Xu Yongze in 1968 during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

Did cult group 'Born Again's influence lead to Sri Lanka's WT20 debacle? SLC panel finds evidence 'inconclusive'

A five-member Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) panel did not find any conclusive evidence to suggest that the dismal performance of its national team in the T20 World Cup in Australia had to do with the selection process being hugely influenced by the cult group 'Born Again'.

In its ruling, the SLC panel has said that it is "not possible to determine" that the influence of the cult had impacted the team's performance, "as certain players, for fear of their future careers, refrained from giving evidence on the cult's influence".


The Born Again Movement or B.A.M., or Word of Life Church, or All Ranges Church ("Total Scope Church") of China is a Christian religious movement founded by Peter Xu Yongze in 1968 during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

The panel which was formed in November after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, has asked all parties to remain vigilant and also suggested that teams once again start taking the blessings of Buddhist Monks before embarking on tours.

The panel, headed by retired high court judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena, has also recommended that teams leaving for international assignments receive blessings from Buddhist monks to prevent episodes like the alleged sexual assault by opening batter Danushka Gunathilaka during the World Cup in Australia.

The panel, constituted in November last year to assess the performance of the 2014 World Cup champions and probe the influence of the cult on team selection, has, however, recommended that "special attention" must be given to prevent the movement from making inroads into the team.

"However we recommend that special attention must be made on the possible future impact from the Born Again sect," the report stated.

Sri Lanka bowed out in the Super 12 stage of the World Cup after hosts Australia scored a four-run win against Afghanistan in their final Super 12 match in Adelaide to move to seven points in Group 1. However, Australia too could not make the semi-final grade with New Zealand and England making into the last-four.

On the issue of players holding back information regarding the cult's influence in SLC, the panel said, "It was observed that certain players for the fear of their future careers refrained from giving evidence on the cult's influence." The report added that cult members had approached certain members of the cricket team, who are Buddhists, to influence them. One such player had started believing in the idealogy of the cult, said the report.

The panel's findings came into the public domain after accusations by former international and the current Sri Lanka A team manager, Charith Senanayake.

Senanayake, a Buddhist, claimed he had been removed by the Born Again cult, who "control SLC".

However, SLC denied that Senanayake had been appointed manager of the A side, which will take on the England Lions, who will arrive soon.

The panel recommended that departing national teams be made to receive "blessings" from Buddhist monks as it would prevent them from holding faith in cults and mythical beliefs.

Opening batter Gunathilaka, who did not batsman play any World Cup game but was with the touring party, was arrested in Sydney following alleged sexual assault charges on the day the team was boarding the flight back to Sri Lanka.

All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne, too, was handed a suspended sentence for his alleged misconduct during the World Cup.

The panel also recommend the creation of a senior manager's position to give supervisory guidelines to team managers at all levels.

(PTI)

More For You

Starmer-Modi-Getty
Starmer during a bilateral meeting with Modi as he attends the G20 summit on November 18, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: Getty Images)

2024 in review: Strengthening India-UK ties amid leadership changes

THE YEAR 2024 brought significant political and economic developments for India and the United Kingdom, shaping the trajectory of their bilateral relations.

A key highlight was the decision to relaunch negotiations for a "mutually beneficial" Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a move that underscores the growing importance of trade between the two nations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer nominates Raval,  Debbonnaire for peerage

Krish Raval

Starmer nominates Raval,  Debbonnaire for peerage

RIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has nominated British Indian professional Krish Raval and British Sri Lankan politician Thangam Debbonnaire for peerage as his government unveiled the latest picks for parliament's unelected upper chamber. The Liberal Democrats have British Pakistani councillor Shaffaq Mohammed on their list. According to reports, former prime minister Rishi Sunak's nominations for the House of Lords are expected at a later date.

The Labour leader also appointed his controversial ex-chief of staff Sue Gray to the House of Lords. Gray, who quit as Starmer's top Downing Street staffer in October amid reported internal tensions, became something of a household name in Britain after leading the probe into the so-called Partygate scandal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government apologises for smoking poster with Sikh man

Sikh teachings explicitly forbid the use of tobacco

Government apologises for smoking poster with Sikh man

THE government has issued an apology after a poster encouraging people to quit smoking sparked criticism from the Sikh community. The poster featured an image of a turbaned Sikh man alongside the message, "Make 2025 the year you quit smoking."

The image, sourced from a stock photo website, was uploaded to the NHS website as part of the Better Health campaign but has since been removed, the Sky News reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
No charges for police in viral Manchester arrest incident

The brawl started on a Qatar Airways flight, but then spilled over into the airport.

Getty Images

No charges for police in viral Manchester arrest incident

NO police will be charged over a violent incident caught on camera in which an officer appeared to kick a man and stamp on his head, UK prosecutors said.

The video, shot during an arrest at Manchester airport, went viral online, causing public outrage and sparking two nights of protests in Manchester and nearby Rochdale in northwest England in July.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jagmeet Singh targets Trudeau with no-confidence motion

Justin Trudeau (L) and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

(Photo by JUSTIN TANG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Jagmeet Singh targets Trudeau with no-confidence motion

CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau looked set to lose power early next year after a key ally said he would move to bring down the minority Liberal government and trigger an election.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been helping keep Trudeau in office, said he would present a formal motion of no-confidence after the House of Commons elected chamber returns from a winter break on Jan. 27.

Keep ReadingShow less