An Indian flight attendant has accused former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga of sexually harassing her at a hotel in Mumbai.
The woman narrated the alleged incident in a lengthy Facebook post which also contains some of the other sexual harassment encounters she has faced in the past.
During a visit to India, Ranatunga (currently Sri Lanka's Minister of Petroleum Resources Development), allegedly grabbed the woman by her waist. The woman allegedly later ran to the hotel reception and complained about Ranatunga's actions but the staff allegedly told her, "It is your private matter."
My star struck colleague spotted Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers in the elevator of Hotel Juhu Centaur, Mumbai and decided to meet them in their room for autographs. I decided to chaperone her, fearing for her safety, we were offered drinks (perhaps laced) I declined and stuck to my bottle of water I'd brought along . They were 7 and we 2, they latched the room door putting the chain secure. My discomfort growing inside of me, I urged her to get back to our room.
"She was smitten and wanted to go for a stroll by the poolside, this was at 1900 hrs, the walk to the pool a desolate, unlit pathway at the back of the hotel, I look back to find (her friend) and the Indian cricketer nowhere in sight.
"Ranatunga grabs me by waist, sliding his hands along the side of my breasts, I scream fearing the worst, kicking on his legs and feet. Threatening him of dire consequences, passport cancellation, reporting it to the cops etc., for he is a Sri Lankan misbehaving with an Indian. Wasting no time, I dashed for the hotel reception a good run on an incline screaming on top of my voice. The reception said, "it is your private matter" and that they can't help me," the woman wrote in her Facebook post.
Ranatunga, one of Sri Lanka's most high-profile cricketers, is yet to officially respond to the allegations. Apart from the Facebook post, however, no evidence has been presented by the flight attendant to substantiate her allegations against the former Sri Lankan captain.
A source close to Ranatunga said that these allegations were fabricated and the former Cricketer was a man of discipline and character.
"He has been highly critical of the unprecedented level of corruption that has plagued Sri Lanka's cricket administration. This could be an indirect consequence of his lone battle," he said.
The Me Too movement has gathered storm in India after Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on a film set back in 2010.
Since Dutta's allegations, a lot of women from various fields come out to speak about their own sexual harassment encounters. ( With Inputs from India Today)