The Cricket Committee and the Executive Committee of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) have decided to lift the ban imposed on Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka. The decision, announced by the SSC, comes with immediate effect, allowing Gunathilaka to participate in the upcoming Major Club Limited Over tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The 32-year-old international cricket star had faced a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney, where he pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent. The specific charge was related to an incident on November 2 of the previous year, during which Gunathilaka was alleged to have engaged in an act known as "stealthing," involving the removal of a condom during consensual sexual activity with a woman at her residence in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka's arrest took place in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was stationed for the T20 World Cup. Subsequently, he was taken to Day Street Police Station, where he underwent questioning for more than two hours. Throughout the trial, Gunathilaka was detained in Australia.

Despite the initial filing of multiple charges, including rape, all other charges against the cricketer have been dropped, leaving only one charge remaining.