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An international search operation has escalated across the United Kingdom and overseas jurisdictions following the disappearance of 34-year-old British businesswoman Nishika Samaratunga and her two vulnerable young sons, five-year-old Blaine and three-year-old Nathaniel. Her former husband, 43-year-old American executive Ben Baier, was awarded sole legal custody of both boys by a Colorado district court in October after a protracted legal battle. However, Samaratunga vanished alongside the children on 29 March following a court-sanctioned visitation in London, failing to return them at Heathrow Airport and triggering urgent tracing orders across international law enforcement bodies.
The couple originally met during a yachting holiday in the British Virgin Islands in December 2019 before marrying in January 2021 and settling near Denver, Colorado. The marriage deteriorated, prompting Samaratunga to file for divorce in September 2024. Following the breakdown, Samaratunga petitioned the Colorado courts for permission to permanently relocate the children to London. The American judiciary denied the relocation request and ultimately granted full custody to Baier, ruling that the boys must reside in Colorado.
To maintain maternal contact, the court ordered Baier to facilitate scheduled visits to London, during which he retained the children’s passports while Samaratunga was granted direct contact. A two-week trip over the Christmas holidays concluded without complication. The crisis unfolded at the conclusion of a second visit in late March. Baier arrived at London Heathrow Airport expecting to collect his sons for their scheduled return flight to Denver. Instead of an airport handover, Baier was met by a legal representative who served him with fresh court paperwork containing unsubstantiated allegations. Samaratunga and the two boys never arrived at the terminal, and her London flat was subsequently discovered vacant.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that both Blaine and Nathaniel are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, making consistent routines, therapeutic interventions, and specialised behavioural support critical to their wellbeing. The sudden disruption of their lives, compounded by their complete withdrawal from formal schooling and routine clinical monitoring, has prompted urgent action from the UK High Court.
The High Court took the exceptional step of lifting standard family division reporting restrictions, authorizing the public dissemination of photographs and names to expedite the search. Furthermore, disclosure and tracing orders have been served against major institutions, including HSBC, JP Morgan Chase, Thames Water, and the National Health Service, to pinpoint any financial or logistical movement. Amy Rowe, a partner at Hunters Law LLP representing Baier, stated to journalists that the court has explicitly recognised the deeply harmful impact of international abduction on young and vulnerable children, stressing that every passing day outside professional oversight elevates risks to their physical and emotional development.
Documents from the Colorado court proceedings revealed that the presiding judge found Samaratunga had fabricated allegations of domestic violence and abuse in bad faith to frustrate custody arrangements, actions police previously confirmed did not constitute criminal offences. The court noted significant concerns regarding the living conditions provided to the children before custody transferred to their father, ultimately ruling that her deliberate evasion placed the boys in imminent danger of emotional and physical harm.
Speaking through legal representatives and direct appeals, Baier disclosed the acute psychological toll the disappearance has inflicted, explaining that he avoids photographs to manage the profound emotional strain. Baier indicated that the only confirmation he received that his sons were still alive came after a video emerged on Sri Lankan television showing his eldest son in distress. He noted that the footage appeared to be a direct cry for parental reassurance rather than an unprompted scene, adding that he remains deeply anxious about how the boys are being treated or what they are being told while isolated from their family support structure.
The fugitive status of Samaratunga has drawn widespread attention due to her prominent commercial background and extensive international network. She is a direct descendant of the Mendis commercial dynasty, being the great-granddaughter of Noel Servulus Oswald Mendis, who acquired the Mackwoods plantation and commercial group in 1956. Having previously completed higher education in the UK and founded business ventures in London and North America, investigators believe her sophisticated resources and global ties may be facilitating her continued concealment.
Despite widespread inquiries by British and American authorities, Samaratunga has not submitted to High Court hearings or offered direct representation through independent counsel to account for her actions. Legal analysts observe that until Samaratunga presents herself to the jurisdiction of the family courts, the full motivations and personal pressures behind the protracted disappearance remain undisclosed. Hunters Law LLP and cross-border enforcement agencies continue to urge anyone with direct knowledge of the whereabouts of Samaratunga, Blaine, or Nathaniel to immediately contact the authorities.
