Danushka Gunathilaka acquitted of sexual assault: ‘Sri Lankan cricketer had no chance to remove condom during sex’

The Sri Lankan cricketer who was facing a trial for raping a woman during the T20 World Cup in Australia has been acquitt by the court.

Danushka Gunathilaka, was accuse of sexually assaulting a woman he met on Tinder in Sydney at her home.

He was initially accuse of multiple sexual assaults, but the case reached court only for ‘stealthing’ or removing a condom during sex without the consent of the other party.

The case used new laws criminalizing stealth in New South Wales that had been enact just five months before Gunathilaka was charge.

During the four-day trial in the New South Wales District Court, the complainant, who cannot be legally named, said she had only consent to safe sex.

The said woman also said that she did not see Danushka remove the condom but saw it fall on the floor immediately after the sexual act was over.

The woman further alleged that the Sri Lankan cricketer “forcibly” kissed her and at times squeezed her throat during sex so forcefully that she feared for her life.

Danushka Gunathilaka denied the allegations and her lawyer argued that the accuser was lying and had changed her story over time.

In her judgement, Judge Sarah Haggett said Danushka Gunathilaka was telling the truth when she told police she had not removed the condom during sex. The judge said he had “no chance” to do so.

The verdict also said that the cricketer had ‘answered every question put to him’ by the police, and his statement ‘gave a clear impression that he was trying his best to tell the truth.’

“There is no reason to reject or believe what he said in this interview,” the judge said.

Sarah Piggott also said in her judgment that the complainant, on the other hand, told two different stories in her statements to the police and did not clearly remember what had happened.

The judgment said that although the woman was “intelligent” and a worthy witness, she sometimes appeared motivated by a desire to make Danishka Gunathilaka look like a bad person.

Danishka Gunathilaka, who represented Sri Lanka in more than 100 matches, including eight Test matches, was suspend by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board after his arrest.

Speaking to reporters outside the court after the verdict, he said the verdict “says it all” and that his reputation had been restore.

“I am happy that my life is back to normal and I am eager to go back and play cricket,” he said.

It should be noted that before the T20 World Cup in 2022, Dineshka could not participate in the competitions due to injuries, but instead of sending him back to his country, he kept in Australia with the squad.