Sri Lanka Cricket appoints three-member panel to investigate sexual assault charges slapped on Danushka Gunathilaka

The  Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed a three-member investigation panel for conducting an inquiry into the matter involving senior batter Danushka Gunathilaka, who has been arrested after he was charged with sexually assaulting an Australian woman in Sydney. He was detained from a Sydney hotel on Sunday, November 6 and produced before the court the next day.

The SLC had already issued a statement in which they made it clear that the cricketer would be severely punished if he is found guilty. On Monday, November 7, the Sri Lankan cricket board also suspended Gunathilaka with immediate effect and made him ineligible for selection in all forms of cricket.

Here’s SLC’s 3-member investigation panel for the Danushka Gunathilaka case

In a latest media release issued by Sri Lanka Cricket on their official website, they have announced the appointment of a three-member panel comprising Justice Sisira Ratnayake, who is a retired High Court judge. The other two members are Niroshana Perera, and, Asela Rekawa (both Attorney-at-Law).

“The committee will also focus the inquiry on various alleged incidents that have come to the attention of Sri Lanka Cricket and that are said to have allegedly taken place during the national team’s stay in Australia,” the release read.

“The panel in this process will call for an immediate explanation from the Team Manager pertaining to his conduct, with references to the occurrence of such incidents,” it added.

“Upon submission of the said report by the Panel, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket will take stern disciplinary action against the players and or officials if proved any wrongdoing or negligence when carrying out official duties,” it further read.

Charges of four counts of sexual intercourse without consent have been pressed against Danushka Gunathilaka after the cricketer allegedly tried to damage the dignity of the Australian woman involved whom he had reportedly met on a dating app. The 31-year-old batter also reportedly had a lawyer for seeking bail at the Sydney court where he was produced.