Sydney court makes decision on Danushka Gunathilaka following rape charges on Sri Lankan cricketer

The 31-year-old Sri Lankan all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka has been denied bail by a local court in Sydney during the hearing of an alleged rape case over the cricketer. For the unversed, Gunathilaka was accused of a rape case by a lady in Australia with whom the former was in connection through an online dating app.

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The Sri Lankan southpaw’s lawyer Ananda Amarnath made happened to file a bail application during a hearing followed by a refusal from the magistrate Robert Williams.

A report from Sydney Morning Herald learned that Gunathilaka was made to appear in front of the court through virtual attendance. He could be seen handcuffed in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans; the report adds further.

"Certainly, we are considering an application to the Supreme Court and that will be done as soon as possible," Gunathilaka’s lawyer Amarnath was quoted as saying in a report.

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In a developing timeline of events earlier, the Sri Lankan team had left Australia without having Gunathilaka with them. Talking about the same, Mr. Amarnath stated that, “some team officials remained in the country.”

Sri Lanka Cricket will take necessary steps to promptly carry out an inquiry into the alleged offense - Sri Lanka Cricket Board in an official statement

While reacting to the incident, the Sri Lankan cricket Board has also come up with an official statement clearing their stance on the same.

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"The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to suspend national player Danushka Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect and will not consider him for any selection after being informed that Mr. Gunathilaka was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a woman in Australia," reads the official statement of SLC.

"Furthermore, Sri Lanka Cricket will take 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,” the report adds further.

Although it's not the first time Gunathilaka to go through such incidents. Earlier, the Sri Lankan cricket board had also suspended the Panadura-born cricketer for six white-ball assignments following the complaint of indiscipline and missing the training sessions, and coming without proper gear for a game.