By Marlon Dale Ferreira
June 3rd, 2025, passed quietly for most. But for two families, one connected to the powerful conglomerate John Keells Holdings Ltd and the other the relatives of one of its tenants at Crescat Residencies, it marked an emotionally charged milestone.
Its been six months since the death of Crescat Residencies resident Caleb Delano Alexander, and three months since the passing of its group’s former Chairman, Ken Balendran.
Yet, these two deaths – both tied to the same organization in some way or the other are now remembered in vastly different ways.
For Balendra’s family, Ken’s passing came with clarity, closure, and the comfort of communal grief. Memorial services have continued in his honor, allowing loved ones to mourn, celebrate, and slowly heal. But for the Alexander family, who now live between Melbourne and Brisbane, grief is tangled in torment. Closure remains elusive. Questions linger. And answers – honest, human, and unfiltered – have never been forthcoming.
Caleb, a Sri Lankan-born Australian national, fell to his death from the 7th floor of Crescat Residencies, a property managed by John Keells. The initial reports suggested suicide. But within 48 hours, a third-party video began to circulate online, suggesting something far more sinister: Caleb was tipped over the railing by a group of people that alledgedly entered his apartment uninvited, took him by surprise, grappled with him on the balcony and tipped him over the railing to his untimely fall and subsequent death.
No official has offered clarity, and the inconsistencies in statements from the Kollupitiya Police, particularly from its Officer-in-Charge have only deepened the family’s suspicions. When The Morning Telegraph began covering the story, readers were introduced to a troubling pattern of silence, power, and presumed impunity.
Among the key figures named in the ongoing controversy is Basil Ranaweera, Administrative Manager at Crescat and a man with deep roots in Colombo’s elite circles. A product of S. Thomas’ Preparatory School and S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Ranaweera is remembered by many as a devout Christian and a disciplined professional with past stints as the Airport Services Manager who worked at Air Lanka in Colombo and also Emirates Airline in Dubai. But today, to the Alexanders, he represents a man who may be holding the key to truth and keeping it locked away.
Caleb’s brother, Randy Alexander says that his entire family continues to search for justice. They have written to everyone, from the President of Sri Lanka to local law enforcement agencies both in Sri Lanka and in Australia. None have responded with the decency or urgency that a grieving family deserves. Even more painful is watching the slow grind of silence, while John Keells, shielded by wealth and influence, continues business as usual. The family believes that the corporation’s clout with the police played a direct role in the cover-up, and that this case was buried in plain sight.
Randy has spoken publicly about the pain their mother endures, especially after losing her youngest son. The heartbreak has driven her to leave Melbourne and resettle in Brisbane, hoping distance would dull the ache. But memories remain. And so do dreams. Randy confesses that he still sees his brother in his sleep, as if Caleb is trying to speak – trying to say, “Don’t forget me. Don’t give up. Keep pushing them till they reveal the truth.”
Despite their suffering, the Alexanders have not lost faith. As Christians, they believe the truth will be revealed in God’s time. They believe justice, though slow, will not be denied forever. And they hope that one day, even those who shield the truth now will find the courage to step forward and set things right.
Until then, their grief continues. So does their fight.
And as for The Morning Telegraph, until then, this story is far from over.
