Ranatunga, Malinga get caught in #MeToo storm

New Delhi, October 11

The #MeToo campaign hit the cricketing world as Sri Lankan greats Arjuna Ranatunga and Lasith Malinga were accused of sexual harassment by two women. Indian singer Chinmayi Sripaada accused Malinga of assaulting her at a Mumbai hotel during an Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Sripaada, 34, shared a post on Twitter to narrate the alleged incident.

“I’d like to remain anonymous. A few years back when I was in Mumbai, I was looking for my friend in the hotel we were staying in. I bumped into a very famous Sri Lankan cricketer during the IPL season who said my friend was in his room,” the famous singer’s post read.

“I go in and she’s not. He then pushed me in the bed and proceeded to climb onto my face. Mind you I’m tall and about same body weight & I couldn’t fight him back. I closed my eyes and mouth but he used my face. Then the hotel staff knocked on the door to replenish the bar, he went to open the door. I quickly ran into the washroom, washed my face and left as soon as the hotel staff left. I was humiliated. I knew people would say that you knowingly went to his room, he’s famous, you wanted it or worse you deserve it,” the post further read.

Ranatunga named

On Wednesday, an Indian flight attendant had accused Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Ranatunga of sexually harassing her.

The woman alleged in a Facebook post that Ranatunga grabbed her by her waist.

“My star struck colleague spotted Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers in the elevator of Hotel Juhu Centaur, Mumbai, and decided to meet them in their room for autographs,” the post read.

“I decided to chaperone her, fearing for her safety, we were offered drinks (perhaps laced). I declined and stuck to my bottle of water I’d brought along. They were 7 and we 2, they latched the room door putting the chain secure. My discomfort growing inside of me, I urged her to get back to our room. She was smitten and wanted to go for a stroll by the poolside, this was at 1900 hrs, the walk to the pool a desolate, unlit pathway at the back of the hotel, I look back to find (her friend) and the Indian cricketer nowhere in sight.”

“Ranatunga grabs me by waist, sliding his hands along the side of my breasts, I scream fearing the worst, kicking on his legs and feet. Threatening him of dire consequences, reporting it to the cops etc...,” the woman wrote. — Agencies