4th April 2025

Letter to the Reader

Dear Reader,

Over the past three decades, Pastor Selvaraj Jeyakanth has witnessed remarkable blessing upon his ministry in Sri Lanka, with many souls being called from darkness to light through his and his fellow labourer’s toils. He has also been the subject of many attacks from the Enemy. He has been brought through many dangers including being kidnapped, and through tears, sorrows and distresses. At times he has been close to breaking point, tempted to give up the work. Like all his fellow Ministers, he has his faults and has made mistakes along the way, but ‘having obtained help of God, he continues unto this day’. 

Pastor Jeyakanth has been accused of many things over the years and has often been thankful for those who sought the truth, being prepared to follow the biblical principle of “two or three witnesses”, and patiently investigate these vexatious allegations. 

In August last year, two Christian Ministers from the UK, David Cooke, of Banbury Evangelical Church and Mark Mullins, of Strangers Rest Church, London, published a comprehensive report on their own investigation, in which they reached their conclusions before they had had opportunity to speak to Jeyakanth’s home church, his office staff, his informed and supportive friends in the UK or indeed Jeyakanth himself. They concluded he was guilty of serious sins including serial adultery, fraud, repeated dishonesty, child abduction, and intimidation. They claimed to have been authorised to conduct this investigation by their home churches and the Report has been published on their church websites. We have to assume their members endorse this Report.

This Definitive Public Response is an attempt to set the record straight. It is the result of many months of painstaking research, drawing on documents and witness testimony from Sri Lanka and the experience of members of the Council of Reference over many years. We believe Jeyakanth is not guilty of any of the serious allegations cited by David Cooke and Mark Mullins, though he has his shortcomings and has made mistakes. We believe this Definitive Public Report demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that that is the case.  

This statement is not perfect or complete, despite our best efforts. However, we have sought to write in the fear of the Lord and write only that which, as far as we can see, is the truth. In this statement we do make strong statements about fellow Ministers, many of whom we love and esteem as brothers in Christ. We bear them no malice and ask their forgiveness if we have unjustly impugned them. We believe most of these brothers are sincere in their views but have been seriously misled in their conclusions about Pastor Jeyakanth. 

We have been very reluctant to write this statement and are reticent to publish it, more widely than is necessary. Love covers the multitude of sins. Over the years Jeyakanth has rarely criticised his detractors publicly, preferring to leave matters with the Lord. Nevertheless, much unnecessary division has now arisen through David Cooke and Mark Mullins Report, and much damage done to the cause of Christ. Sadly, other former supporters have also publicly criticised Jeyakanth and his fellow workers, and we have addressed some of that criticism too.

In July 2021, Jeyakanth was excommunicated by Amyand Park Chapel, Twickenham, by whom he was regarded as a member. APC have recently issued a public statement themselves, explaining their decision. At the time, this led to two members of the Council of Reference resigning. After carefully reviewing the case, the remaining and current members of the Council of Reference concluded that this step was unwise and unjust. We explain our reasons for this conclusion in this Definitive Public Report. 

We have written primarily in defence of the truth and to honour our Heavenly Master, and only secondarily in defence of a dear brother in the ministry.  

We commend this report to you. It is a lengthy document and will not be easy reading to those unfamiliar with the issues, names and places referred to. Nevertheless we hope it will be of assistance in reassuring you that Pastor Jeyakanth, and those who labour alongside him in Sri Lanka, remain worthy of your prayerful interest and support.

We see no need to send this report unsolicited to those who have no interest in the matter, but are making it available to those who wish to read it.

May the Lord use this report in a way beneficial for His Kingdom and for the honour of His name, and forgive anything amiss in its content and in our own motives in seeking to promote the truth.

The Council of Reference 

(for the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (“LEFC”))

Those who would like to read the Definitive Public Response may obtain a copy by contacting the Council of Reference at cor4lefc@gmail.com.

The previous statement from The Council of Reference, from October 2024, may be found here, or by clicking the link below.