Foreign cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will remain behind bars after he was charged with the sexual assault of a Sydney woman but he has the “full support” of the Sri Lankan high commission.
The international cricket star, 31, appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday via audio visual link from Surry Hills Police Station after he was arrested at a Sussex St hotel in the city’s CBD about 1am on Sunday.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s sex crimes squad and Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command began a joint investigation following allegations a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted.
It’s crunch time at the T20 World Cup and you can catch every match live and ad-free in play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Mr Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of the morning and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, but the court papers did not make it and he spent another night in custody on remand as the matter was moved to Monday morning.
He wore thongs, dark blue jeans and a grey T-shirt when he faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.
He held his head down as he heard a police prosecutor tell the court she would be applying for an interim non-publication order over the bail hearing.
The result was granted and the court was closed to the public for legal reasons.
Magistrate Robert Williams refused Mr Gunathilaka’s bail, meaning he will spend the next two months behind bars on remand until the matter is next before the court in January.
Defence lawyer Ananda Amaranath told media outside court that he wanted the court to remain open.
“The magistrate made the order the court be closed,” he said.
Mr Amaranath said his client was “disappointed” by the result.
“He will be disappointed clearly … but we have to accept the decision,” Mr Amaranath said.
“He has the full support of the Sri Lankan high commission and the cricket board.”
During a police press conference on Sunday, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty from the child abuse and sex crimes squad said Mr Gunathilaka and the woman allegedly matched on a dating app.
She told reporters they communicated on various platforms, including video calling, before meeting up.
A crime scene examination was undertaken at the address on Saturday.
It is understood the rest of the Sri Lankan team has already flown home without Mr Gunathilaka.
“The male is being supported by the Sri Lankan consulate,” Superintendent Doherty said.