Gunathilaka granted bail in case of alleged sexual assault
AFP
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Taskin expects to return with Sri Lanka series
15 May 25
Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will be released from prison on Thursday after being granted bail in a second bid before the Local Court.
After being charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, the 31-year-old has been held on remand for 11 days.
On Thursday, he appeared in his prison greens at Sydney Downing Centre to make an urgent request for release, backed by a $200,000 surety provided by a "friend of a friend."
Under his strict bail conditions, he is not to access any of his existing social media profiles or dating profiles once released from prison, and will not be able to leave Australia as his passport has been surrendered.
Police allege the international cricket star matched with a woman on a dating app and they chatted several times before they met on November 2.
According to police, the pair had drinks in the city before returning to the woman's home in Sydney's eastern suburbs around 11 p.m.
Mr Gunathilaka allegedly ignored the woman's request to "take it slow," instead choking and assaulting her in her own home.
When the pair moved to the bedroom, the top order batsman allegedly pushed himself on top of the woman. According to police, the woman was uneasy and agreed to continue sexual activity only if Gunathilaka wore a condom.
Police allege the woman was “in shock” and did not consent to sex without a condom. She again asked him to use a condom but he refused and forcefully engaged in sexual activity, according to police claims.
During the several hours he remained at the woman’s home, Mr Gunathilaka allegedly choked the woman multiple times and slapped her on the buttocks.
On Thursday, the court was told the international cricket star would make a second application for bail after the first request was refused by the Local Court on November 7.
