Eliyantha White

Eliyantha Lindsay White

Eliyantha Lindsay White is a spiritual healer from Colombo who also uses herbs, and the personal physician for Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. He claims to have healed ailments in many cricket players including Lasith Malinga, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar and Ashish Nehra. Sachin Tendulkar once called Dr. White the "Miracle Doctor from Sri Lanka". He is not a registered medical practitioner. While some sources claim that he has rendered cures to a great number of patients, others describe him as a 'quack' and a 'soothsayer'.

Early life

Eliyantha White is of British heritage. He appears to have grown up in the town of Kalubowila, Sri Lanka and began his treatments at the age of 12 by treating someone who was suffering from an incurable cancer. He claimed to be able to materialise medicine through spirits of Rishis, which he then used to cure people. He studied traditional medicine in both Sri Lanka and India. Eliyantha White now utilises herbs and supernatural powers to produce medicine. ගෑනු අතගාන්න ආස බුවෙක්

Rise to Fame

Eliyantha White giving medications to Sachin Tendulkar

White initially started treating people at Eeyamporuwa Temple in Madiwela. From here, his popularity rose to a point where he was apparently hounded in the streets and was treating over a thousand patients a day. He was always committed to treating people free of charge.

Much of his popularity may be attributed to treatments that he administered to public figures, particularly cricket players and Bollywood stars. Some examples include successful treatment of Sri Lankan cricket players after terrorist attacks in Pakistan; Mukesh Ambani for unknown reasons; and Bipasha Basu after a shoulder injury prior to a show.

In March 2010, Eliyantha invited David Beckham to Sri Lanka for treatment of an injury. He claimed to be able to put Beckham back on the field in three days. It is unclear whether Beckham took up this offer.

Controversies

Eliyantha White's status and treatments have been the subject of intense controversy.

In May 2011, Upul Tharanga, a Sri Lankan Cricketer failed a dope test conducted by ICC and it was rumoured that Tharanga had been treated by White and the medication given by White contained the banned substance, due to which Tharanga failed the dope test. However, Upul Tharanga has not officially confirmed that he was treated by White. But Sri Lankan sports minister confirmed that White treated Tharanga. However Tharanga had been treated by other doctors as well.

On 15 July 2011, the International Cricket Council's Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal decision in the case of Mr Upul Tharanga discussed in some detail the question whether Eliyantha White's medicine may have contained banned substances.

In September 2011, it was alleged that Eliyantha was constructing an illegal hotel in the town of Ahungalla.

White has claimed to be able to cure AIDS, spinal problems, cancer and other serious conditions. However, to date, there is no confirmed evidence that he has cured any patients suffering from those illnesses. He has however, cured a patient with leishmaniasis.

Despite claims that Eliyantha is the Sri Lankan president's personal physician, this fact is sometimes disputed.

The Sri Lankan radio station Neth FM have been providing coverage of Eliyantha White through the show 'Balumgala'.

Political Status

During the recent adjournment debate in Parliament on legal recognition to alternative systems of treatment, members were unanimous in complimenting the physician’s performance, with A. H. M. Azwer pointing out that "it is very rarely that we witness an adjournment motion acceptable to all members of both sides of the House. This is one such rare moment".

Moving the motion, MP Palitha Range Bandara said that White has treated patients not only in Sri Lanka but overseas as well. He had rendered remarkable service. His name had surfaced in the House many a time but whatever the statements made, the fact remains that his services had been sought by Government and Opposition members alike in addition to the Attorney General and people in different strata of life.

He tabled in the House letters of appreciation from many persons including Minister Lakshman Seneviratne and Bandula Gunawardena, Lal Wickrematunga (Brother of slain Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga), national cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Tilakaratne Dilshan.

The MP said that various accusations against White have now been proven wrong. They are without foundation. It is on record that Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar had also come to Sri Lanka with his wife Anjalika to seek treatment from him and was cured.

"White is a Sri Lankan doctor. Without making him a UPFA physician, his services should be made available to all parliamentarians alike, whether in government or opposition", MP Ramanayake noted.

It was at a juncture when they targeted him with ferocity and the flak seemed infinite that the President himself suggested that he undertake the challenge to cure 15 patients Opposition parliamentarians would refer to him for treatment. There were patients with cancer, severe spinal pain and Leishmaniasis (A skin disease) amongst them".

Public Figures Treated by Eliyantha White

• Bipasha Basu
• Salman Khan
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Ashish Nehra
• Ian Chappell
• Lasith Malinga
• Gautam Gambhir
• Thilan Samaraweera
• Mukesh Ambani and family
• 'Bothale Gamini', the elephant
• Latha Walpola, singer

Although public figures seem to have had well publicised success with Eliyantha White's treatments, it is unclear whether regular patients enjoy the same. It is said that he has successfully treated thousands of people in the past.