A top politician of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna is being accused of exerting pressure on the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to bear all legal costs relating to the arrest of Cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilaka. This information was first revealed by veteran sports journalist Rex Clementine. Posting on Twitter he said another prominent politician who was connected to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya earlier has provided his address in Sydney to submit Gunathilaka’s bail application.

However, the courts denied bail and the case has been adjourned till 12 January. It is likely Gunathilaka will have to remain in Australia till then. However, his lawyers are set to post another bail application for him soon.

After Clementine's revelation others posting on Twitter have said the politician had demanded the SLC do everything possible to ensure Gunathilaka is bailed out and to strike a deal allowing the cricketer to return to Sri Lanka. The poster tagging a prominent young politician asked the latter to respond to allegations after some claimed it was this particular politician who had given the instructions on Gunathilaka to the SLC. 

Gunathilaka was arrested on 6 November and has now been remanded over allegations of sexual assault on a woman in Sydney, Australia.