A prominent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk has been remanded in custody following allegations of sexually abusing a minor girl within a temple complex, sparking outrage and legal proceedings.
Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters
Key Points
- A prominent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Pallegama Hemarathana, has been remanded in custody.
- The monk is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl in a temple in Anuradhapura.
- The court ordered the 71-year-old monk to be remanded until May 22.
- The monk heads Atamasthana, a venerated site visited by thousands of Buddhist pilgrims.
- The child’s mother has also been arrested for aiding and abetting the alleged abuse.
A Sri Lankan court on Thursday remanded one of the most prominent Buddhist monks of the island nation in a case of sexual abuse of a minor girl.
The Colombo Fort magistrate’s court served the remand order on 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana, chief priest of a prominent Buddhist temple.
The court ordered that the monk be kept in remand until May 22 and be transferred to the National Hospital from a private hospital where he had been warded when he was arrested.
Details Of The Arrest And Allegations
The monk was arrested on May 9 following an investigation into the case of sexually abusing a now 15-year-old girl in the temple premises located in the north central capital of Anuradhapura, about 200 kms from Colombo.
Significance Of The Monk’s Position
The monk heads Atamasthana, the most venerated eight Buddhist shrines, including the Sri Maha Bodhi, the holiest shrine next to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. These eight shrines are a world heritage site visited by tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims.
Investigation And Further Arrests
The arrest came after weeks of investigations led by the National Child Protection Authority.
The child’s mother was also arrested for aiding and abetting child abuse.
A complaint about the incident was registered in March. Hemarathana was arrested from the emergency unit of a private hospital in Colombo, where he was undergoing some treatment.
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