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ABC News
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National

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka charged with alleged sexual assault of woman in Sydney

Sri Lankan international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Mr Gunathilaka, 31, was arrested about 1am on Sunday after the woman, 29, made a complaint to police last week.

Police allege the cricketer sexually assaulted a woman he met for a date in Rose Bay on Wednesday. 

On Saturday, detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad and Eastern Suburbs police formed Strike Force Veteran to investigate the allegations.

Mr Gunathilaka was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street in Sydney CBD, where he was staying with the Sri Lankan T20 cricket team in town for the World Cup.

He has since been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

Mr Gunathilaka was refused bail by police and will be held in custody before appearing at Waverley Local Court on Monday.

Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the accused was being supported by the Sri Lankan consulate.

Full name Mestiyage don Danishka Gunathilaka, the 31-year-old last played for his country on October 16 in Sri Lanka's opening game of the T20 World Cup against Namibia in Geelong.

His late-night arrest was not influenced by the Sri Lankan team's imminent departure from Sydney after being knocked out of the tournament, Superintendent Doherty said.

The rest of the squad flew home on Sunday morning.

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