Double trouble awaits Danushka?
Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, has advised the Sports Minister to initiate an investigation into the conduct of Sri Lanka international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman while representing the country at the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The AG has also advised Minister Roshan Ranasinghe to impose a blanket ban on the cricketer, preventing him from taking part professionally in cricket or any other sport.
The AG issued a letter after analyzing the contents of the report compiled by the committee headed by retired High Court Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena. The committee was appointed to investigate allegations concerning the conduct of the Sri Lankan cricket team during the T20 World Cup.
No matter what course of action the Australian legal system takes regarding Gunathilaka, the AG has pointed out to the Sports Minister that police can still take action against him separately, according to Sri Lankan law.
Accordingly, he has informed the Minister to immediately conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. The Sports Minister has also been advised to take appropriate action against other cricketers on the tour that were found to have engaged in acts of indiscipline.
Minister Ranasinghe had forwarded the committee’s report to the AG asking for advice on the follow up actions that could be taken based on its findings. A two-page letter containing the AG’s recommendations, signed by Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, PC, and Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe, was forwarded to the Sports Minister on Friday.