SHOCK AS CRICKET STAR CHARGED
SRI Lankan World Cup cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka has been charged following the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Sydney’s east.
Just hours after Sri Lanka’s loss to England at the SCG on Saturday night sent Australia crashing out of the World Cup, police swooped on the Sri Lankan team hotel on Sussex St and arrested Gunathilaka shortly before 1am.
It is understood the Sri
Lanka team was about to board a bus for the airport ahead of its flight home when the arrest was made.
It’s alleged a 29-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted at a residence in Rose Bay last week.
Gunathilaka has been charged with four counts of sexual assault without consent and refused bail ahead of an appearance at Parramatta Bail Court.
Sri Lankan teammates flew home on Sunday morning without the allrounder Gunathilaka who was injured three weeks ago, but was kept around with the squad.
Head of the NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the pair was matched on a dating app on October 29.
She said they communicated on various platforms including text message, voicemail and video calling for several days before they met up on Wednesday, November 2.
“They met for prearranged drinks, had something to eat and went back to the woman’s home,” said Detective Superintendent Doherty.
It is there that police allege Gunathilaka sexually assaulted the woman four times over a number of hours. “The woman had taken all precautions, she met in a public place, it was just unfortunate,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
Gunathilaka has played eight Tests, 47 one day internationals and 46 T20 internationals for Sri Lanka.