SYDNEY: In a shocking turn of events, Sri Lanka batter Danushka Gunathilaka, who participated in Sri Lanka’s recent campaign at the T20 World Cup in Australia, was arrested in Sydney over alleged charges of rape on the morning of Sunday, November 6, 2022.
According to media reports, the arrest was made from the team hotel in Sydney’s central business district in connection with an alleged sexual abuse complaint of a 29-year-old woman.
The sexual assault was reported at a property in Rose Bay earlier in the week.
“The woman met with the man after communicating with him for a number of days via an online dating application; it’s alleged he then sexually assaulted her on the evening of November 2, 2022. As part of ongoing investigations, a crime scene examination was undertaken by specialist police at an address in Rose Bay yesterday. Following further inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1 am today (Sunday, November 6, 2022),” said a New South Wales police statement as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, ” the statement further said, adding he was refused bail and will appear at the Parramatta Bail Court via an audio-visual link on Sunday.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that it was notified by the ICC that Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested over allegations of sexual assault of a woman in Sydney, and Mr. Gunathilaka is due to appear in court tomorrow November 7, 2022).
SLC will closely monitor the proceedings in court and, in consultation with the ICC,will expeditiously initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and take stern action against the player if found guilty.
The left-handed batter played against Namibia in the first round match of the ongoing T20 World Cup and was out for a duck. Due to a hamstring injury, Gunathilaka was forced to withdraw from the T20 World Cup in the preliminary round. He was replaced in the lineup, but he stayed in Australia with the team. Since making his debut in November 2015, he has played for Sri Lanka in eight Tests, 47 ODIs, and 46 T20Is.
After losing to England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in their final group match, Sri Lanka crashed out of the tournament on Sunday, a result which also led to host nation Australia failing to qualify for the semi finals.
NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the woman took a lot of steps to ensure her safety, including communicating with the man for several days before meeting and going for a date in a public place.
Sources familiar with the matter told the Herald and The Age that the arrest took place after the Sri Lanka team arrived back at their hotel after losing to England at the SCG.
With a 6am flight out of Australia, the Sri Lankan players and management were packing and preparing to leave at 3.30am when police arrived to make the arrest.
Asked whether it was unusual to arrest someone at 1am, Superintendent Doherty said: “We are open 24-7.”“Police investigated and once we established there was a case to answer to, we made the arrest,” she said.
The Sri Lankan team, which finished fourth in Group 1, left to Colombo Sunday morning as scheduled without Danushka Gunathilaka.
