Two members of Sri Lanka's Under-19 men's cricket team have been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate's Court after their arrest over allegations of secretly filming individuals inside a hotel in Narahenpita.
Reports, including those from Sri Lanka Mirror, indicate that the players were released on two sureties of LKR 500,000 (around INR 1.5 lac) each after appearing in court.
The arrests took place earlier this week following complaints from women staying at Hotel Janaki, who claimed they were being filmed while bathing. According to ESPNcricinfo, the police have stated that the investigation is still ongoing, and it remains unclear how extensive the recordings are or if any footage was shared online. Authorities have also mentioned that some of the alleged material might involve male individuals as well.
The two players, reportedly students from Trinity College, Kandy, and Joseph Vaz College, were said to have been sharing a room at the time of the alleged incident. As part of standard protocol for the Under-19 setup, players’ mobile phones are typically collected by team officials in the evening.
The case is still under investigation, with Narahenpita Police continuing to examine devices and gather evidence. The players are set to appear in court again on May 25. At this point, no formal conclusions have been reached, and the allegations remain unproven in court.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has yet to announce any disciplinary actions. Recently, the existing administration was replaced, with the government stepping in to oversee operations through the Ministry of Sports due to allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
A reform committee, reportedly including former captain Kumar Sangakkara, has been appointed to guide the transition. On the field, Sri Lanka’s men’s team will be in action starting June 03, as they head to the West Indies for an extensive all-format series, which includes 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is, and 2 Tests.