IPL 2026: Sri Lankan cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who has been away from the international circuit for some time, is in the news again for all the wrong reasons.
As per a report, Rajapaksa, who was once in a relationship with a Sri Lankan actress Harshi Rasanga, has accused her of pawning a gold chain worth Rs 9 Lakhs, without the Cricketer’s knowledge. Rajapaksa, who was once a part of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) line-up in IPL, also sent a notice to the actress over alleged false accusations against him on social media.
The dispute between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Harshi Rasanga explained:
As reported by Newswire, the conflict between the left-handed hitter and the actress involves a gold chain that Rasanga pawned without the actress's knowledge. In that context, Rasanga was apprehended by the Thalangama Police and brought before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court. She was also allowed bail on two bonds of Rs. 5 lakhs apiece.
Regarding the court proceedings, the defense asserted that the gold chain was pawned, but measures could be taken to retrieve and redeem it. However, Rasanga disclosed to the press later that the chain was given to her during a romantic relationship. Rajapaksa's team has initiated legal action following the actress’s inconsistent statements. The court instructed Thalangama Police to take possession of the golden chain and present it to the court before the next hearing set for April 22.
Where is Rajapaksa now?
The Sri Lankan was a part of the IPL in 2023, where he represented the Punjab Kings before getting released in 2024.
The 34-year-old has participated in 13 IPL games (as of 2023), mainly representing Punjab Kings (PBKS), accumulating 277 runs with an average of 23.08 and a strike rate of 145.02. His IPL career features one half-century, a top score of 50, and 16 sixes.
In terms of international cricket, Rajapaksa’s final T20I took place in 2025 against Zimbabwe, where he scored 11 runs off 18 balls while Sri Lanka was dismissed for 95 while chasing 162.