Sri Lankan batter Danushka Gunathilaka gets withdrawn from three out of four charges of sexual assualt

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has now been withdrawn from three out of the four charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in her residence in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on the night of November 2nd, 2022. The 32-year-old was arrested from his team’s Hotel in Sydney’s CBD last year and was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent.

According to the Police, Gunathilaka and the 29-year-old woman met through Tinder at Sydney’s Opera Bar. After that, they both returned to the Women’s residence in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where he allegedly choked her and raped her without a condom. Police also alleged that Gunathilaka choked her for more than 20 seconds and squeezed tighter when she tried to remove his hands “severely restricted her breathing”.

“The complainant was in shock and did not say anything out of fear of retribution,” a police facts sheet said. Police said that the woman “was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused” during the incident

The Prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Hugh Buddin told the court that the one charge had been certified against Gunathilaka but he has withdrawn of the remaining three counts of sexual intercourse without consent charges. He attended the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday wearing a beige jumper and sunglasses.

Gunathilaka’s lawyer opposing the delay

The prosecution was successful in applying for an adjournment last month, which took the hearing beyond the six-month requirement for charge certification. Gunathilaka’s lawyer Alen Sahinovic opposed the delay, claiming that his client has been subjected to undue hardship as a foreign citizen which include strict bail conditions and limited familial and social support.

The bowling all-rounder traveled to Australia with the Sri Lanka cricket team for the 20-20 World Cup last year. However, he only got to play one game in the tournament before he was ruled out due to a hamstring tear. He was arrested on November 6 from Sydney’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, moments before he was scheduled to board a flight to Sri Lanka with his team after they were knocked out of the tournament. He is set to reappear in court to make a plea on July 13.