Sri Lanka probe T20 World Cup incidents
DANUSHKA Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney on Sunday morning and charged with four counts of sexual assault after Sri Lanka were eliminated from the T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka have confirmed they are investigating ‘various alleged incidents’ at the T20 World Cup in Australia following the arrest of Danushka Gunathilaka on Sunday morning. Gunathilaka was arrested by police and charged with four counts of sexual assault.
The 31-year-old remains in custody having had bail denied twice. Since his arrest, Gunathilaka has been suspended from all forms of cricket by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. In the wake of the alleged charges, the governing body have confirmed a three-person panel will investigate the allegation as well as other potential incidents.
In a statement, they said: “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of a three-member investigation panel consisting of Justice Sisira Ratnayake (retired High Court Judge), Mr Niroshana Perera, attorney-at-law, and Mr Asela Rekawa, attorney-at-law, to initiate an inquiry into the alleged incident involving player Danushka Gunathilaka.
“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.
“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.”
The Sri Lankan team have since flown home from Australia following their elimination from the T20 World Cup, but without Gunathilaka who remains in custody. Speaking outside court on Monday, his lawyer Ananda Amaranath said: “He was hoping it would get to court on Sunday, so he‘s disappointed that didn’t happen, but he is holding up OK.
“He is quite concerned about what will happen if he can’t get back to Sri Lanka. These are serious charges and it could take a year or more for this to be finalised, so he is very worried about that too.”-DailyMirror.