Three Sri Lanka players Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella were suspended on Monday, 28 June, by Sri Lanka Cricket for a bio-bubble breach in the UK. The cricketers who were in England for the ongoing limited-overs tour will now fly back home from Durham.
"Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee has suspended Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka & Niroshan Dickwella for breaching the bio- bubble and they will be immediately recalled to Sri Lanka," SLC secretary Mohan De Silva said in a statement.
A video of Mendis and Dickwella had gone viral on social media where the two were spotted roaming around on the streets of Durham.
“An investigation is underway as they have breached the (code of) conduct,” said SLC chief Shammi Silva said earlier after the video of the players surfaced on social media.
Sri Lanka are touring England for a three-match T20I series and as many ODIs. The visitors suffered a thumping 0-3 defeat in the series after losing the third and final encounter by 89 runs. Chasing 181 in 20 overs, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 91.
This is not the first time that Mendis has found himself in trouble. He was arrested for being allegedly involved in a car accident with a cyclist who died on the spot last year.
He was later produced before the Panadura Magistrate’s Court and was released on two personal bails of Sri Lankan rupees 1 million each after being detained in the jail overnight.
The first ODI between England and Sri Lanka will be played on Tuesday.