Sri Lankan cricketer suspended after rape charges in Australia

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Sri Lanka suspended its cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka after he was arrested over alleged rape charges in Australia, according to an official statement on Monday.

“The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket 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 Mr. Gunathilaka was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a woman in Australia,” said the Sri Lanka Cricket, the governing body for cricket in the country.

It added: “Sri Lanka Cricket 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.”

Australian media reported that Gunathilaka was charged and arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

On Monday, he was denied bail, according to daily The Sydney Morning Herald.

“He (Gunathilaka) was arrested on Sunday while packing his bags at the team hotel on Sussex Street for a 3.30 a.m. team departure back to Sri Lanka, following the side’s Twenty20 World Cup match loss to England at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) on Saturday night,” the newspaper said on Monday.

Sri Lankan national team was in Australia for Twenty20 World Cup.

Gunathilaka traveled to Australia with the team. He played only one game and was ruled out of World Cup following his hamstring injury.