Why Arjuna Ranatunga lost so much weight

The dramatic transformation of Arjuna Ranatunga is rooted in bariatric surgery he undertook in 2024, followed by sustained changes to diet and daily activity. The former Sri Lanka captain has spoken about recognizing surgery as a choice to overcome long-term metabolic risks and has emphasized the need for disciplined routines to sustain the results.

What he has said on the record

Ranatunga has appeared in hospital testimonial material describing how the bariatric procedure improved his health. His comments reflect standard medical advice: the surgery is a tool, and long-term success is based on nutrition, portion control and regular movement rather than a quick cosmetic fix.

Why the photos triggered speculation

Recent photos of Ranatunga at an event hosted by the Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club, flanked by fellow legends, set social media abuzz. To fans who remember him as a stout, street-smart leader from 1996, the transformation seemed sudden, and people jumped to questions of ill health that the facts at hand do not justify.

Bariatric surgery explained in simple terms

Bariatric surgeries alter the way the intestinal system handles food, facilitating reductions in calorie intake and enhancing metabolic signalling. These usually result in significant weight loss and effective management of comorbidities such as hypertension and sleep apnoea when combined with a staged post-operative regimen that includes dietitian support, staged food reintroduction, vitamin supplementation, and graduated exercise.

Lifestyle after the surgery

The post-surgery playbook is consistent: smaller, protein-forward meals, mindful hydration, limited simple sugars and a progressive activity plan that becomes habitual. Ranatunga has pointed to these routines as the reason his results look so striking months after the operation rather than weeks, a sign of consolidation, not crash dieting.

Why this matters beyond cricket

The change in Ranatunga underlines a broader South Asian health reality: midlife weight gain and metabolic syndrome are common, and many people delay treatment until complications arise. A high-profile figure choosing a clinically supervised route, then doing the day-to-day work, normalises evidence-based care over fads or secrecy.

The bottom line

Arjuna Ranatunga's weight loss resulted after bariatric surgery and the sustained lifestyle discipline thereafter. The surprise may be new, but the method is well-established, and his transformation reflects adherence to a plan designed to improve health, not a sudden, unexplained crisis.