SLC hires new lawyer for Dhanushka Sports Minister tenders apology to relevant party in Australia

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has hired a new attorney-at-law to represent Sri Lankan cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilaka who was arrested over rape charges in Australia, former Legal Head of the SLC Chanaka Senaratna said.   

He said lawyer Ananda Amaranath who was handling Dhanushka’s case was removed from the case and another lawyer was hired by SLC from today to continue the case after SLC decided to pay legal fees on behalf of Gunathilaka.   

He said most of the members of the Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee are in Australia and they can take a decision from there.   

Meanwhile Gunathilaka has maintained his innocence of all charges, according to a statement from his lawyers.   

SANS Law, a Sydney-based law firm retained by Danushka Gunathilaka to appear on his behalf in court said “Danushka Gunathilaka maintains his innocence of all charges. Given the early stages of proceedings, we do not wish to make any further comment and will allow for the matter to be properly ventilated before the Court,” the statement by his lawyers said. In another development Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe tendered an apology to the concerned party in Australia over the behaviour of the Sri Lankan cricketer.