State minister of sports Rohana Dissanayake says Sri Lanka has a responsibility to protect its cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who faces sexual assault charges in Australia.
Speaking at a ceremony in Kandy yesterday (13), the state minister noted that Gunathilaka was an accused only.
Dissanayake extended his sorrow over the incident to the Australian government.
He also said the course of action, including providing legal assistance to the cricketer, would be decided in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Meanwhile, Gunathilaka, who is charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, has launched a second bail bid.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the Sri Lankan cricketer will face a New South Wales Supreme Court hearing in December.
In the NSW Supreme Court today (14), the defence counsel had been briefed on the case and he sought a bail hearing date for Gunathilaka.
An initial bail application was refused by a Downing Centre local court magistrate in Sydney on November 07.
