Police question Sri Lankan batsman Danushka Gunathilaka over alleged rape

Sri Lankan police have questioned national opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka after a Norwegian woman was allegedly raped in a hotel room where he was staying, an official told AFP on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old cricketer has already been suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket over ‘misconduct’ charge after a close associate of his was arrested for sexual assault in a hotel in Colombo.

The event occurred during the South Africa tour of Sri Lanka, at the hotel where both teams are staying.

Gunathilaka asleep during rape

The left-handed batsman was quizzed by police about an incident at the weekend when his friend Sandeep Jude Selliah was accused of raping a Norwegian woman in their hotel room.

"He has said he was asleep and was not aware of what had taken place between his friend and the Norwegian woman," said the policeman.

Gunathilaka’s friend was arrested shortly after the woman complained to police on Sunday that she was raped the evening before in the presence of the cricketer.

Selliah was remanded in custody until Thursday.

"Police are not pressing charges against Gunathilaka at the moment, but the case record will be presented to a magistrate on Thursday," the officer said.

Gunathilaka has been left out of the Sri Lanka squad to play a five-match ODI series against South Africa starting at Dambulla on Sunday.

The Board of Cricket for Sri Lanka will conduct a disciplinary hearing after police investigations are over.