Sri Lankan cricketer’s Facebook win after being charged with sexual assault

A Sri Lankan cricket star charged with sexual assault has had his bail conditions relaxed so he can access social media.

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has had his bail conditions relaxed so he can use social media after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman inside her Sydney eastern suburbs home.

The 32-year-old on Thursday appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court where his solicitor Sara Black applied for his bail to be varied.

He has been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and has not yet entered a plea.

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka had his bail conditions relaxed on Thursday. Picture: Instagram.

Police allege the international cricketer matched with a woman on a dating app and they chatted a number of times before they met on November 2 when the alleged offences occurred.

At the time he was in Australia to play in the T20 World Cup.

Mr Gunathilaka’s application to vary his bail was not opposed by the police prosecution on Thursday morning.

Sri Lankan cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka was charged with sexually assaulting a woman after a night out in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw.

Magistrate Ian Guy deleted conditions that prohibited him from accessing his Facebook and Instagram accounts.

He had previously had his bail relaxed so he could use WhatsApp.

He will remain on bail on other conditions including that he is not allowed to use dating apps.

The Sri Lankan national also surrendered his passport and cannot approach any international departure point.

As well, he was ordered to report to police every day, abide by a nightly curfew and released on a $200,000 surety.

Mr Gunathilaka was charged following an incident at a woman’s home. He has not entered a plea. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift.

The court was previously told that he and the woman – who cannot be named – had drinks in the Sydney CBD before they went back to the woman’s home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Police have alleged that the woman agreed to sexual activity only if Mr Gunathilaka wore a condom.

The woman told police she later found the condom on the floor beside the bed.

The matter will return to court later this month.