Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka who was accused of sexual assault in Australia has spoken to the media after being found not guilty of the charges by a Sydney Court today.

Speaking to the media for the first time since being accused of sexual assault, the Sri Lankan cricketer said, “the verdict says everything”.

“The last eleven months were hard for me. I thank my manager, my lawyers, especially Murugan Thangaraj. I also thank everyone in Australia, my parents and even some from Sri Lanka who helped me. Everyone believed me, which means alot to me,” he said.

Gunathilaka further said that the Judge has said who has lied and who has not, reiterating that the verdict says everything.

“I’m happy that my life is normal again. I can’t wait to go back and play cricket,” he added.

The International cricket star faced a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent.

The charge relates to an incident on November 2 last year when it is alleged the 32-year-old removed a condom while having sex – known as stealthing – with a woman at her home in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying at the time for the T20 World Cup.

He was then taken to Day Street Police Station where he answered questions for more than two hours and later detained in Australia for the duration of the trial.

Although initially several charges were filed against the cricketer, including rape, all other charges have been dropped aside from one.

Issuing the verdict on the single charge against the Sri Lankan cricketer, Judge Sarah Huggett said the cricketer was found not guilty of sexual assault.

The Sydney judge said the evidence established there was “no opportunity” for him to have removed a condom during sex, and that he was truthful in his police interview.