SLC appoints committee to investigate Danushka's incident

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed a 3-member investigation panel consisting of Justice Sisira Ratnayake (Retired High Court Judge), Attorney Niroshana Perera and Attorney Asela Rekawa to investigate the alleged incident involving national player Danushka Gunathilaka.

A statement from SLC said that the committee will also focus the inquiry on various alleged incidents that have come to the attention of Sri Lanka Cricket and that are said to have allegedly taken place
during the national team's stay in Australia. 

The panel in this process will call for an immediate explanation from the Team Manager pertaining to his conduct, with references to the occurrence of such incidents, said the statement.

"Upon submission of the said report by the Panel, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket will take stern disciplinary action against the players and or officials if proved any wrongdoing or negligence when carrying out official duties.," said Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket earlier 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 Gunathilaka was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a woman in Australia.

Sri Lanka Cricket said it 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.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to emphasize that it adopts a "zero tolerance" policy for any such conduct by a player and will provide all the required support to the Australian law enforcement authorities to carry out an impartial inquiry into the incident.

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka will remain behind bars after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney's eastern suburbs during the T20 World Cup.   

Gunathilaka unsuccessfully applied for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday in a hearing that was closed to the public. 

Police had been granted a suppression order restricting access on what could be reported about the 31-year-old's alleged crimes.

The top-order batsman spent Sunday night behind bars after being charged with raping a 29-year-old Australian woman.

He faces four counts of sexual intercourse without consent allegedly committed over a two-hour period at Rose Bay on November 2. 

Gunathilaka appeared in the Downing Centre by audio-visual link from Surry Hills police station. He was handcuffed and wearing a grey T-shirt with blue jeans. 

The injured star was arrested at a hotel in the Sydney central business district as he and teammates were preparing to depart the country about 1am on Sunday after crashing out of the T20 World Cup hours earlier.

Gunathilaka's lawyer Ananda Amaranath said his client was disappointed his bail application had not been granted. 

'He's holding on well considering the circumstances,' Mr Amaranath said on Monday outside court.

'But he has the full support of the Sri Lankan High Commission and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, so he's OK at the moment.' 

It was likely Gunathilaka would again apply for bail in the Supreme Court.   

 Amaranath had previously said Gunathilaka would be 'very worried' if he could not get back to Sri Lanka because it could take a year or more for the case to be finalised. 

Gunathilaka has played eight Tests for Sri Lanka, as well as 47 one day internationals and 46 T20 games. 

He was injured three weeks ago and did not play in the T20 World Cup but remained in Australia with his Sri Lankan teammates.

Sri Lanka finished fourth in group one with two wins and three losses, including a narrow defeat against England at the SCG on Saturday night.

England will face group two winner India in the semi-finals in Adelaide on Thursday.

New Zealand will play group 2 runner-up Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Reigning champions Australia won't defend their T20 title after failing to progress past the group stage.