Sri Lankan authorities have arrested Pallegama Hemarathana, a prominent Buddhist monk, on charges of sexually abusing an underage girl. The arrest marks one of the highest-profile cases involving clergy in Sri Lanka.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lankan authorities arrested a prominent Buddhist monk on sexual abuse charges involving an underage girl. Pallegama Hemarathana, chief priest of a venerated temple, was detained at a Colombo hospital where he sought treatment. The victim’s mother was also arrested for aiding the monk.
- Senior Buddhist monk arrested in Sri Lanka over alleged child sex crimes
- 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana accused of abusing an 11-year-old girl in 2022
- Arrest took place at private hospital in Colombo where he sought treatment
- Victim’s mother also arrested for aiding and abetting the monk
The 71-year-old monk was taken into custody at a private hospital in Colombo where he had sought treatment amid an ongoing investigation. According to CBS News, Hemarathana is accused of abusing an 11-year-old girl in 2022 at a highly venerated temple in Anuradhapura, where he serves as the chief priest.
The arrest comes after child protection authorities criticized police for delays in apprehending Hemarathana despite him being named as a suspect. The victim's mother was also arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the monk, according to BBC. A magistrate ordered that Hemarathana be transferred to the Colombo prison hospital and imposed a foreign travel ban on him.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Hemarathana's high-ranking position within Sri Lanka's Buddhist community. He is the chief custodian of eight sacred sites, including one associated with a tree believed to have grown from a sapling of the Bodhi tree in India. This arrest follows other recent incidents involving Buddhist monks, such as drug smuggling and embezzlement.
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