A Sri Lankan cricketer star who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman inside her Sydney home has had a major win in court after police dropped several serious charges.
Mestiyage Don Danishka Gunathilaka, 32, appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on four charges of sexual intercourse without consent after his arrest late-last year during the T20 World Cup.
Police allege the international cricketer matched with a woman on a dating app and that the pair chatted a number of times before they met on November 2, when the alleged offences occurred.
Lawyer Alen Sahinovic told the Sydney court on Thursday police had dropped three of the four charges against the cricketer, who has been stranded in Australia on bail as he fronts the allegations.
Gunathilaka now faces a single charge of sexual assault.
The court was previously told that Gunathilaka and the woman – who cannot be named – had drinks in the Sydney CBD before they went back to the woman’s home in the city’s eastern suburbs.
The Sri Lankan national previously surrendered his passport and was ordered not approach any international departure point after being released on a $200,000 surety by Downing Centre court.
He will reappear before the same court on July 13 for committal.
More to come.
