SL International Cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka arrested in Australia

COLOMBO (News 1st) - 31 year old Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested at about 1am on Sunday, according to foreign media, after a 29 year old woman made a complaint to police last week.

New South Wales police said the cricketer and the 29-year-old woman first made contact via a dating app last weekend. According to Australian media the app used was 'Tinder'.

In Tinder, users "swipe right" to like or "swipe left" to dislike other users' profiles. Tinder uses a "double opt-in" system where both users must like each other before they can exchange messages. Users are unable to search for specific people: the app uses a built in algorithm which suggests matches based on your preferences and the region.

It is not known if Gunathilaka used his real name.

Police said, after a series of texts and calls, they met for a date on Wednesday (02nd Nov) before going back to the woman’s home in Rose Bay.

It is alleged Gunathilaka assaulted her there multiple times over a period of several hours.

Detectives launched an investigation on Saturday after reports of the alleged assault and early on Sunday morning Gunathilaka was arrested at his hotel on Sussex Street in Sydney’s city centre.

He was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday. He is due to appear at Waverley local court on Monday.

Gunathilaka was staying with the Sri Lankan T20 cricket team at a hotel on Sussex Street in Sydney CBD.

The rest of the squad flew home on Sunday morning and are scheduled to arrive back in SL on Monday morning.

Speaking to reporters, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad said on Sunday the accused was being supported by the Sri Lankan consulate. 

Doherty said the woman took steps to ensure her safety – including communicating with the man for several days online before meeting in person and going on a date in a public place.

She added Gunathilaka's late-night arrest was not influenced by the Sri Lankan team's imminent departure from Sydney after being knocked out of the tournament.

The left hander last played for Sri Lanka on October 16.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that it was notified by the ICC that the left hand batter had been arrested, adding that Gunathilaka is due to appear in court on Monday.

SLC added it 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.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Cricket, in a second statement issued a clarification stating that despite being replaced midway through the T20 World Cup due to injury, Gunathilaka was retained in the squad as a “stand-by player.”

SLC says the decision was taken by the team management in consultation with the doctors and selectors, as Gunathilaka was fast recovering from the injury he suffered.

Hence SLC says, it was decided to keep the player with the team, as he had already acclimatized to the climatic conditions in Australia, and can continue to train with the squad with a view to immediately drafting him back into the 15-member squad should the need arise.

Gunathilaka has played eight test matches, 47 one-day internationals and 46 T20I games for Sri Lanka.

Gunathilaka is no stranger to controversy.

In July 2018, Sri Lanka Cricket handed him a six-match suspension for breaching its code of conduct regulations.

Then in July 2021, SLC imposed bans on Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella, for breaching the COVID bio-bubble last year during their tour of England in June. SLC subsequently lifted the ban, early this year.