​"Came ​to know Dhanushka through Facebook ... asked us to come to Movenpick hotel"

​"Came ​to know Dhanushka through Facebook ...

asked us to come to Movenpick hotel"

Colombo Fort magistrate and additional district judge Miss Lanka Jayaratna yesterday (23) ordered that a close friend of Sri Lankan cricketer Dhanushka Gunatilleka be remanded until day after tomorrow who was produced before courts in connection with the incident of raping a businesswoman, a Norwegian national. It was one Sandeep Jude Selliah, a 2 year old Sri Lankan holding a British passport.  

The young girl by the name of Burge Backensin had arrived in this country in the company of her

friend Siljay Nighland last Sunday (15) on a tour and while engaged in travelling here Siljay Nighland had come to know Sri Lankan cricketer Dhanushka Gunatilleka across a social network website and had thereby struck up a friendship with him. Based on that friendship Dhanushka Gunatilleka has invited the Norwegian girl and her friend who was with her over the phone to come to hotel Movenpick where the Sri Lankan Cricket team was stationed. On that occasion both these Norwegian nationals had been having some wine at Colombo Cinnamon Red Hotel and on the invitation extended to both the girls had arrived at the said hotel where the Cricket players were residing.

Subsequently, both Dhanushka Gunatilleka and his friend Sandeep Jude Selliah had gone to a room in the hotel with the two Norwegian girls. It is stated in the complaint that Sandeep Jude Selliah had by force engaged in a sexual act with one of the girls, while in the room. The said girl had made a complaint to the officer-in-charge at Colpetty police station and thus the young man was produced before court. It is mentioned in the complaint by the Norwegian girl that cricketer Dhanushka Gunatilleka had paid the bill to reserve the room and had paid for the meals for her and her friend. 

The complaint was handled by Colpetty police sergeant Mr. Ekanayaka and attorneys-at-law Messrs. Dhammika Jaynetti, Kaushalya Welikanna and Aruna Mallawaarachchi appeared on behalf of the defence. The identification parade for Sandeep Jude Selliah, friend of cricketer who is under remand custody is to be held in courts day-after-tomorrow (26). 

--Amila Abeyratna--