Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been refused bail and will remain in custody.
Danushka Gunathilaka appeared by video link in handcuffs at a Sydney court today (7) to seek bail after he was charged with 4 counts of sexual assault.
Gunathilaka, who spoke only to confirm his identity, was shown on a screen in Downing Centre Local Court.
According to Australian Media, Magistrate Robert Williams briefly adjourned the case before hearing the bail application.
The prosecution said it would seek to suppress the publication of some elements that might identify the alleged victim.
A source close to Danushka Gunathilaka told NewsWire, “He was refused bail on the basis of being a foreign national, and that they can’t guarantee him to be at the address that has been given.”
He will be held in a correction centre.
Police arrested and charged Gunathilaka on Sunday, hours after the national team lost to England at the Twenty20 World Cup.
Gunathilaka was ruled out during the first round with a hamstring injury but remained with the team in Australia.
He was arrested at a hotel in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
According to Australian media, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad said the pair had allegedly matched on a dating app.
She told reporters on Sunday they communicated on various platforms, including video calling, before meeting up on Wednesday.
Gunathilaka is alleged to have met the woman for prearranged drinks and returned to her home, where the sexual assaults allegedly occurred.
Commenting on the matter, Sri Lanka’s cricket board said it was following the case after being informed about the charges by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“SLC will closely monitor the proceedings in court and, in consultation with the ICC, will expeditiously initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and take stern action against the player if found guilty,” it said in a statement.
Gunathilaka made his international debut in 2015 and has played eight Tests, 47 ODIs and 46 T20s. (NewsWire)