Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested this morning after a 29-year-old lady from Rose Bay made a criticism to police.
It is alleged the 31-year-old worldwide cricketer was speaking with the lady for a number of days through a relationship app and thru textual content, voice and video chats earlier than they met up in individual on Wednesday night.
“The pair met up in Sydney at a pre-arranged assembly, they’d drinks and went for one thing to eat earlier than going again to the younger woman’s dwelling,” Intercourse Crimes Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty informed reporters.
“Police will allege that while they’re within the dwelling the male assaulted the feminine various instances while performing sexual acts upon her.”
The alleged assault happened over a few hours, Doherty mentioned.
The lady concerned within the matter took lots of steps to make sure that she was protected, Doherty mentioned.
Police declare she communicated over various days earlier than arranging to fulfill up, met up in a public place with different individuals round that have been conscious that she was there to fulfill somebody for a date.
“It has nothing to do with assembly on a relationship app,” Doherty mentioned.
Gunathilaka was arrested at a resort on Sussex Road, within the CBD, the place he has been staying, shortly earlier than 1am this morning.
He was taken to Sydney Metropolis Police Station and charged with 4 counts of sexual activity with out consent.
The Sri Lankan nationwide was refused bail and is scheduled to seem at Waverley Court docket tomorrow.
It was the prosecution’s intention to ask for bail to proceed to be refused, Doherty mentioned.
Doherty mentioned sexual assault was a really critical offence.
“We have now consent legal guidelines that commenced earlier this 12 months that present that the judiciary realise how critical sexual violence is and that it ought to at all times be an individual’s alternative as as to whether or not they have interaction in a sexual act,” she mentioned.
“We all know that it takes lots of effort and it is vitally daunting for individuals to come back ahead and inform their tales.
“However that is the way it begins.”
Gunathilaka has been in Australia to play within the T20 World Cup.