#MeToo: After Malinga, World-Cup Winning Sri-Lankan Captain Ranatunga Faces Sexual Assault Allegations

Sri Lankan cricketers Lasith Malinga and Arjuna Ranatunga have been accused of sexual harassment in the ongoing #MeToo movement, Deccan Herald has reported. The cricketers have been accused by two Indian women, of harassing them while playing in India.

Malinga was accused of forcing himself on a woman at a Mumbai hotel during IPL, while she was searching for her friend. Malinga had allegedly lied to the woman that her friend was in his room and later assaulted her when she went there.

An Indian flight attendant accused politician and former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga of sexual harassment. The report claims that she was accompanying her friend who was ‘smitten’ by Sri Lankan cricketers living at Hotel Juhu Centaur.

She alleged in a Facebook post that, “Ranatunga grabs me by the waist, sliding his hands along the side of my breasts, I scream fearing the worst, kicking on his legs and feet”.

Following this, she threatened him of dire consequences and dashed for the hotel reception, while screaming on top of her voice. She alleged that despite pleading to the receptionist, the official allegedly said that it was her private matter, and that they couldn’t help her.

Read also: #MeToo Reaches Cricket: Sri Lankan Pacer Lasith Malinga Accused Of Sexual Harassment; Singer Karthik Also Named