Senaka Weeraratna 

Many milestones illustrate the difficult journey of Cricket in Sri Lanka from the time of its introduction in the 19th century to where it is today. A fascinating saga of ascend from minnows to prodigy that has captured the imagination and fancy of the cricket world. Sri Lanka occupies a unique  spot in cricket for its creativity and innovation both within and beyond the boundary. 

Great cricketers of Sri Lankan origin i.e., Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays and Burghers, from time to time have left a legacy of high achievement while fighting against the odds. 

But in this story of cricket in Sri Lanka two milestones stand above the rest. The incredible World Cup victory in 1996 under the leadership of Arjuna Ratnatunga and the invention of the Decision Review System (DRS) by lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997 initially known as ‘ Player Referral’. The former was achieved within the boundary and the latter was achieved beyond the boundary, and funnily enough within one year of each other. 

The World Cup victory in 1996 is an inspiring part of history that Sri Lanka can be proud of. The DRS is now a part of regular cricket in all three formats of the game. T20, One Day International and Test Cricket. It is a powerful reminder on a daily basis of Sri Lankan ingenuity and brilliance. 

DRS has swept the world .There is no challenge to the only claimant in the world with supporting evidence. DRS has brought transparency, accuracy and fairness to a game long enmeshed in wrong decision making by ground umpires sometimes leading to tension and bitterness between nations. 

Sweeping in its grandeur DRS awaits the one last deserving accolade – formal recognition of the inventor of this ground breaking facility with payment of due compensation for his remarkable contribution to the advancement of the integrity of the game.

Senaka Weeraratna 

See also 

DRS – Sri Lanka’s greatest gift to the World of Cricket