Sri Lanka lift ban on Danushka Gunathilaka after clearance on sexual assault charges

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Sri Lankan batter Danushka Gunathilaka is eligible to play for Sri Lanka once again after the Island nation's cricket board (SLC) lifted the ban on him that was imposed on him last year following his arrest in Australia over sexual assault charges.

Danuskha Gunathilaka, who was banned on November 22, was cleared to play for the national team by Sri Lanka Cricket-appointed independent inquiry committee, whose recommendation was ratified by SLC's executive committee on October 13. It also cautioned the cricketer "to always uphold his status as a representative of the nation in all his future actions".

"After careful evaluation of Mr. Gunathilaka's exoneration and with due consideration to his cricketing career and its impact on the cricketing ambitions of the nation, the Inquiry Panel, headed by Retired High Court Judge, Sisira Ratnayake, Mr. Niroshana Perera, Attorney at Law and Mr. Asela Rekawa Attorney at Law, unanimously recommended an immediate lifting of his cricketing ban, allowing him to resume regular cricket activities and return to national duty," the SLC media release stated.

The 32-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested last year during the men's T20 World Cup in Australia after a woman accused him of sexual intercourse without content. Following the accusation, Danuskha Gunathilaka was forced to stay in the nation for 11 months for the trial, which saw him charged on four counts of rape.

All the rape charges were dropped by the prosecution before trial while only the count of "stealthing" was taken up by the court. The four-day trial in the in the Downing Centre District saw him being acquitted of the single charge as well.