Sri Lanka Cricket suspends Danushka Gunathilaka following rape charges

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has decided to suspend batter Danushka Gunathilaka with immediate effect after the cricketer was arrested on rape charges in Sydney, Australia. This means Danushka will not be considered for any selections and will face further penalties if found guilty.

“The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket decided to suspend national player Danushka Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect and will not consider him for any selections after being informed that Mr. Gunathilaka was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a woman in Australia.

“Furthermore, Sri Lanka Cricket will take the necessary steps to promptly carry out an inquiry into the alleged offense, and, upon conclusion of the aforementioned court case in Australia, steps will be taken to penalize the said player if found guilty,” SLC said in an official statement.

Local court turns down bail request of Danushka Gunathilaka

In the latest developments, the local court turned down Danushka Gunathilaka’s bail request during the hearing on Monday. The cricketer attended the virtual hearing via video link in Downing Centre Local Court from Surry Hills cells. His lawyer Ananda Amaranath revealed that they are going to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court.

“Certainly, we are considering an application to the Supreme Court and that will be done as soon as possible,” Amaranath said. The 31-year-old batter was arrested on Sunday just a few hours before the Sri Lankan team left for home following their elimination from the ongoing showpiece event.

The arrest was made after carrying out an investigation following a complaint registered by a woman on November 2. The woman in her complaint said the she met the cricketer via a dating app and they were connected for days before Danushka sexually assaulted her at their meet-up.