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The T20 world cup last year was not without its off-field drama as Sri Lankan cricket Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested on sexual assault allegations. In a major 360-degree legal proceeding, three out of the four counts were dropped in the Sydney court by the prosecutor, as per the local media's reports.
Danushka Gunathilaka was initially charged with four counts of sexual intercourse under New South Wales law, including "non-consensual choking", "digital penetration", and "stealthing" - sex without a condom without the woman's consent.
The court was previously told that Gunathilaka and the woman met through a dating app and had drinks in the Sydney CBD before moving to the woman's home at Sydney's Rose Bay. According to the police, the woman was ‘fearing for her life’ during the incident and could not get away. The prosecution successfully applied for an adjournment last month, which took the hearing beyond the six-month requirement for charge certification.
Gunathilka's lawyer had opposed the move and claimed that his client was being subjected to undue hardship as a foreign citizen with strict bail conditions and limited familial and social support. Lawyer Alen Sahinovic told the court that three of the four charges against the Sri Lankan international have now been dropped, with just one charge against him remaining.
Gunathilaka played just one game at the T20 World Cup 2022 against Zimbabwe before being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Srilanka bowed out of the tournament in the group stages itself finishing fourth in the group with just two wins. He was arrested on November 6 at Sydney's Hyatt Regency Hotel, just before he was scheduled to leave the country with the rest of the team. The batsman had surrendered his passport and was ordered not to approach any international departure point after being released on a $200,000 surety by Downing Centre court. He will again make an appearance in court on July 13 for his plea.
