Danushka Gunathilaka: Sri Lankan cricketer found not guilty of rape

A Sri Lankan cricketer accused of raping a woman while in Australia for the T20 World Cup has been found not guilty.

Danushka Gunathilaka, 32, was accused of assaulting the Sydney woman at her home after a Tinder date in November.

Initially, he was charged with multiple counts of rape, but only one count of stealthing - removing a condom without consent - proceeded to trial.

The case tested new laws criminalising the act in New South Wales (NSW).

Gunathilaka - who has represented Sri Lanka in more than 100 matches including eight Tests - was suspended from competitive cricket following his arrest.

Speaking outside court, he said the verdict "says everything" and that his reputation had been restored.

"I'm happy that my life is normal again, so I can't wait to go back and play cricket," he told reporters.

The case is the most high-profile test of stealthing law reform in Australia, with NSW only outlawing the act five months before Gunathilaka was charged.

(BBC)