Sports Minister’s T20 WC fact-finding committee report: Recommendations include strong punishment for Danushka

The five-member committee appointed to investigate a number of incidents related to Sri Lanka cricket during last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia presented their report to Minster of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe on Tuesday.

In its report, the committee, which was headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena, covers the incident relating to Danushka Gunathilaka’s arrest on charges of sexual assault, Chamika Karunaratne’s disciplinary breach, the impact of the ‘Born again’ religious group on the national cricket team, and matters relating to financial irregularities among other matters. The Committee has also presented a series of recommendations pertaining to the areas investigated.

With regard to Danushka Gunathilaka’s arrest, the committee concluded that despite Gunathilaka claiming that the encounter with an Australian woman was consensual, his conduct was unbecoming of a national player on tour, and any punishment handed out should be one that strongly impresses on all players the importance of maintaining due discipline on tour.

On Chamika Karunaratne’s reprimands for leaving unattended lamps lit in his hotel room, and being involved in a confrontation with an individual at a casino, the Committee advised against any further disciplinary action in addition to the suspended sentence and fine already imposed by SLC.

The report confirmed that a number of persons in and around the Sri Lankan cricket team identified as followers of the ‘Born again’ religious group, but did not go as far as stating that the religious sect had direct influence on the Sri Lankan team

However, it strongly recommended that attention be directed towards the group, stating that there exists the possibility for certain issues to arise in future if he matter is left unchecked. 

It was mentioned within the report that an individual going as Pastor Terry has once confronted Buddhist cricketer Karunaratne and attempted to share with him details on the ‘Born again’ religion.

The report also draws attention to alleged misappropriation of funds by officials during the recent T20 World Cup, as well as the general disciplinary matters of the team.