SL cricket to launch inquiry into Gunathilaka incident
Sri Lankan Test cricketer Danushka Gunathilake has been suspended after a Norwegian woman accused his friend of raping her in a hotel room where he was present, an official said Monday.
Gunathilaka, 27, and his friend, who cannot be named, took two Norwegian women to the hotel where the player was staying in Colombo in the early hours of Sunday.
Sri Lanka police stated that Danushka is not himself under police investigation and confirmed that his suspension from all forms of cricket does relate to the alleged sexual assault.
One of the women later accused the second man, a British passport-holder of Sri Lankan origin, of raping her and police arrested him.
The 26-year-old "is under arrest and we are continuing our investigations," said a police official quoted by AFP. "A Norwegian tourist made the complaint of rape."
He said there was no allegation against Gunathilaka, who is currently Sri Lanka's best-performing batsman in an ongoing tour by South Africa.
However Sri Lanka Cricket on Sunday night suspended him on a "misconduct" charge, although he is allowed to play in the match that is currently taking place.
The governing body's rules stipulate that during matches players must be back in their hotel rooms by midnight and cannot have guests.
The cricket board will also "withheld Gunathilaka's fee for the ongoing Test match until the outcome of the inquiry," it said.
Sri Lanka cricket issued a statement that said that the cricketer would be suspended at the conclusion of the second Test against South Africa.
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