Australian Police acted ‘unreasonably’ in Danushka’s case – Court

Published

1 year ago

November 24, 2023

editor

Police who prosecuted a Sri Lankan cricket star later cleared of sexually assaulting a woman at her Sydney home acted “unreasonably”, a court has been told.

Danushka Gunathilaka, 32, was finally allowed to leave Australia after about 10 months on bail after he was acquitted following a judge-alone trial in September.

Police had alleged Mr Gunathilaka had removed a condom without consent, also known as “stealthing”, during a sexual encounter with a woman he met on Tinder.

Judge Sarah Huggett, who also presided over the trial, said during a costs hearing on Friday that she had “significant concerns” about the prosecution’s case.

“There were so many inherent issues and difficulties with the prosecution case that should have been obvious to the prosecution at the outset.”

Justice Huggett had ordered that a certificate be issued to Mr Gunathilaka so that he may be awarded costs. It’s understood he has since returned home.

Police had submitted that in deciding to prosecute Mr Gunathilaka they could not have predicted what “factual findings would be made at trial”.

(Agencies)

LG polls 2025: postal voting concludes today

Published

48 minutes ago

April 29, 2025

editor

Postal voting for the 2025 Local Government (LG) Election is scheduled to end today (April 29).

The Chairman of the Election Commission – R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, mentioned that eligible government officials who missed casting their votes on the previous days will have the opportunity to do so today.

The marking of postal votes commenced on April 24, with additional opportunities provided on the 25th and 28th.

The Election Commissioner has also emphasised that the deadline given to cast postal votes will not be extended under any circumstance.

Meanwhile, distribution of official polling cards for the LG elections will also be concluded today and according to Postmaster General P. Sathkumara, the process is nearly complete.

News

5 convicted in 2012 murder get death penalty

Published

53 minutes ago

April 29, 2025

editor

The Colombo High Court yesterday (April 28) sentenced 05 persons to death over their involvement in a murder that took place in 2012.

Two more were sentenced to life imprisonment as they were minors aged 17 and 15, during the time of the crime.

The verdict was delivered by High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe.

The defendants were found guilty of three charges, including the murder of a 21-year-old using a blunt weapon.

A total of nine persons were involved in the incident, but two of them died while the case was continuing.

News

Heavy rainfall expected today

Published

1 hour ago

April 29, 2025

editor

The Department of Meteorology says that the Intertropical Convergence Zone, where winds from the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere converge, affects the island’s weather.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island during the afternoon or night today (April 29)

Showers may occur in Southern and Western provinces and Puttalam, Mannar and Jaffna districts in the morning too.

Heavy rainfall of about 100 mm is likely at some places in Central, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya and Mullaittivu districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central and Uva provinces during the morning.