#MeToo: Indian air hostess accuses Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga of sexual misconduct

The #MeToo campaign that has been raging wildly across social media in the past few days has now found an instance of its own in cricket where a flight attendant has revealed her harrowing experience with Sri Lankan legend Arjuna Ranatunga.

She took to Facebook to reveal her episode of being sexually harassed by the former skipper, by a poolside of an Indian hotel. Ranatunga currently holds the chair of the Minister of Petroleum Resources Development in his country.

Alleging that the Sri Lankan grabbed her by the waist during one of his visits to India, she recalls screaming and kicking him on his legs before running to the reception of the hotel to immediately report the incident where she was unfortunately told that it was an entirely, “personal matter.” The year of the incident still remains unclear though.

“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. 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,” read her post on Facebook.

Also read: #MeToo: Four women accuse Suhel Seth of sexual harassment

She further added,” “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.”

Recalling the ordeal, she elaborated, ” 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, passport cancellation, reporting it to the cops etc., for he is a Sri Lankan misbehaving with an Indian. Wasting no time, I dashed for the hotel reception a good run on an incline screaming on top of my voice. The reception said, “it is your private matter” and that they can’t help me.”

A veteran of 296 ODIs and 93 Test matches, Ranatunga ranks as one of the greatest cricketers in Sri Lanka, who guided the Islanders to their only World Cup title in 1996.

Image credit-Wah Cricket