Sri Lankan star Danushka Gunathilaka arrested and charged over alleged sexual assault of woman

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested and charged over the alleged sexual assault of an Australian woman.

Gunathilaka was escorted by police from the Sri Lankan team hotel on Sussex Street, in Sydney, before 1am on Sunday.

Police allege he sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman at a Rose Bay home last week and he has been charged with four counts of sexual assault without consent.

It comes as his Sri Lankan teammates flew home on Sunday after losing to England at the SCG during the T20 World Cup on Saturday. 

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka has been arrested and charged over the alleged sexual assault of an Australian woman

Gunathilaka was escorted by police from the Sri Lankan team hotel on Sussex Street, in Sydney, before 1am on Sunday

He has been refused bail and was scheduled to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.

NSW Police confirmed a Sri Lankan national had been arrested alleging the pair had met on a dating app.

‘The woman met with the man after communicating with him for a number of days via an online dating application; it’s alleged he then sexually assaulted her on the evening of Wednesday 2 November 2022,’ a spokesman said.

‘As part of ongoing investigations, a crime scene examination was undertaken by specialist police at an address in Rose Bay yesterday.

‘Following further inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1am today (Sunday 6 November).

‘He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

‘The Sri Lankan national was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court via AVL today.’

Gunathilaka was injured three weeks ago and did not play for Sri Lanka in the competition but remained with the team on their tour.

Sri Lanka could not have advanced in the T20 even if it had beaten England on Saturday.

NSW Police confirmed a Sri Lankan national had been arrested alleging the pair had met on a dating app

The team squandered a blistering start of 52-1 in five overs before ending up at a disappointing 141-8. 

England will face the Group 2 winner in the semifinals at Adelaide next Thursday.

 New Zealand will play the Group 2 runner-up at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

‘We go there (Adelaide) looking forward to whoever we play at what is one of the best stadiums in the world,’ Buttler said.

Opening batter Pathum Nissanka braved pain on his twisted ankle and made 67 before England hit back through its spinners. 

Adil Rashid was 1-16 and fast bowler Mark Wood picked up 3-26 after being smacked for two sixes by Nissanka in his first over.

England sank Sri Lanka in the death overs when Nissanka holed out to long on in the 16th over and then Wood claimed three wickets in his return spell, allowing the islanders to score only 25 in the last five overs.

More to come