Danushka Gunathilaka Arrested For Sexual Assault

It’s been a poor time for Sri Lanka as a nation, given the economic crisis back home. And the same applies for their national team which was prematurely knocked out of the 2022 T20 World Cup after losses in the Super 12s stage. Now, it’s gotten bad to worse for them as one of their cricketers in Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested from the team hotel in Australia over sexual assault allegations.

“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. Following further inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1am today (Sunday 6 November 2022),” said a New South Wales police statement about the same.

Danushka Gunathilaka arrested in Sydney

Given the good form of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order, Gunathilaka has been a part of the squad but hasn’t been in the playing eleven in the 2022 T20 WC. And this morning of 6th November 2022, he was arrested after investigations were complete over this case of sexual assault, being picked up from their team hotel in Sydney.

“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 (audio visual links) today,” added the police statement. Currently nursing a hamstring injury, the left-handed opener has played 8 Tests, 47 ODIs and 46 T20Is for Sri Lanka so far.

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If the allegations are right and there’s enough of evidence, this could very well be the end of the international career of the 31-year old batsman. Sri Lanka’s tournament ended yesterday, 5th November 2022 when they lost to England in the Super 12s stage, and the team is likely to fly back without their star batsman Gunathilaka.

And he seems to be someone who is used to getting into trouble. A little more than a year ago, Gunathilaka was one of three Sri Lankan players who were sent home from their tour of England when they breached the rules of the bio-bubble, at a time when Covid-19 was rampant and cricket boards were paying heavily for the bio-bubbles.

Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested in Sydney yesterday for rape. Sri Lanka team left home without him this morning. Gunathilaka was injured three weeks ago and replaced by Ashen Bandara. But team management kept him with the squad without sending him home.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) November 6, 2022

Australian fans on Twitter weren’t holding back with their comments, especially the women. One user commented the following after reading about Gunathilaka was dragged out of his hotel and arrested on four counts of rape – “Enter the country as a guest to play a game of cricket. Sexually assault an Australian woman. Nice.”

Reports coming in also tell us that it’s not the first time that Gunathilaka has been arrested on counts of sexual assault or rape. He was also arrested for rape in 2018, after allegations came in from a Norwegian woman. Here’s more on this piece of news that was shared by cricket journalist Boria Majumdar on Twitter:

BREAKING- Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested by the Sydney police on charges of rape. The team has left for home leaving him behind. ⁦@debasissen⁩ with details. ⁦@RevSportz⁩ pic.twitter.com/KUyDFMoGUB
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 6, 2022