Sri Lankan Cricket Star Arrested On Rape Charges In Sidney

Sydney: Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested on rape charges from the team hotel in Sydney’s central business district after a police investigation in the early hours of Sunday.

The 29-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a residence 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 Wednesday 2 November 2022,” a New South Wales police statement, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, said.

“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 6 November 2022). He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The Sri Lankan national was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court via AVL today.”

Gunathilaka was staying with the team after getting ruled out of the tournament during the first round owing to a hamstring injury. He has played eight Tests, 47 ODIs and 46 T20Is for Sri Lanka since making his international debut in November 2015.

Meanwhile, his team left Australia without him after playing their final group match of the ongoing T20 World Cup.