Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka acquitted of rape charges

Sri Lankan cricketer, Danushka Gunathilaka, has been found not guilty of rape allegations in Australia. Gunathilaka was accused of assaulting a woman he met on Tinder while in Sydney for the T20 World Cup. Initially charged with multiple counts of rape, only one count of stealthing, which is the act of removing a condom without consent, proceeded to trial. The case was significant as it tested new laws in New South Wales criminalizing stealthing. During the trial, the complainant stated that she had only consented to protected sex and did not see Gunathilaka remove the condom, but found it on the floor afterward. She also alleged that Gunathilaka had kissed her forcefully and at times choked her. Gunathilaka consistently denied the allegations, and his defense argued that the woman had lied and changed her story over time. In the judge's decision, it was concluded that Gunathilaka had told the truth to the police when he said he did not remove the condom during sex. The complainant's inconsistent statements and lack of clear memory regarding the incidents played a significant role in the verdict. Gunathilaka, who was suspended from cricket following his arrest, expressed relief at the verdict and stated that his reputation had been restored. This case also highlights the recent law reform in Australia regarding stealthing, with New South Wales outlawing it just five months before Gunathilaka was charged.