Sri Lanka Cricket suspend Danushka Gunathilaka after sexual assault charge

Accused of four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, the 31-year-old has been denied bail by a Sydney court. The governing body will launch its own investigation over the incident

Danushka Gunathilaka has been suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket after being charged with sexual assault.

The governing body's executive has pledged to conduct an investigation into the alleged incident.

Gunathilaka, 31, was arrested at the team hotel in Sydney on November 6 following a police investigation into reports that a 29-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted on November 2.

Charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, he has been denied bail by a Sydney court  - a decision that could be appealed to the Supreme Court.

^{Gunathilaka's bail plea was heard at Downing Centre Local and District Court, Sydney (DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)}

Though Gunathilaka's suspension is largely trivial given he cannot leave Australia, SLC are conducting their own investigation and have promised to impose a penalty if Gunathilaka is guilty.

A statement read: "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.

"Furthermore, Sri Lanka Cricket will take the necessary steps to promptly carry out an inquiry into the alleged offence, and, upon conclusion of the aforementioned court case in Australia, steps will be taken to penalize the said player if found guilty.

^{Gunathilaka (right) saw his World Cup campaign cut short by injury (MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)}

"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."

A hamstring injury had ruled Gunathilaka out of Sri Lanka men's T20 World Cup squad on October 19 but he remained in Australia as a stand-by player. Sri Lanka, winners in 2014, were knocked out in the Super 12s.

His seven-year international career has seen him feature in eight Tests, 47 one-day internationals and 46 T20Is.

Related Topics

• Sri Lanka international Danushka Gunathilaka charged with sexual assault

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