Hemarathana Thero remand order was refused by Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court amid legal issues over a Colombo court order.
Hemarathana Thero remand proceedings took a dramatic turn after the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court refused to issue an order further remanding Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne refused to issue the order when the case related to the alleged serious sexual assault of a 15-year-old minor girl was recalled before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court today, May 12.
Pallegama Hemarathana Thero is currently being held in remand custody following an order issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 08.
The Chief Magistrate stated that he could not issue an order further remanding suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero under the circumstances placed before court.
He made the observation while addressing police officers, including Officer-in-Charge of Nittambuwa Police, Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardhana, who appeared on behalf of the complainant, lawyers including President’s Counsel Kalinga Indratissa appearing for the suspect, and prison officials.
Prison officials informed court that suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero had been remanded until today, May 12, according to an order issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 08.
They also stated that the Colombo court had ordered that he be produced before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court today.
However, the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate noted that he had still not received that order from Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 08.
As a result, he said he had no legal authority to issue an order further remanding the suspect when the relevant order had not been received and when the suspect was not present before his court.
The Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate further stated that if an order remanding suspect Hemarathana Thero was to be issued in the present situation, such an order should be issued by the same Magistrate who ordered him to be held in custody under observation until May 12.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that the case be recalled before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court on the upcoming 15th.
He also directed the Nittambuwa Police to submit a report on the progress of investigations on that day.
When the case was called, Officer-in-Charge of Nittambuwa Police, Chief Police Inspector Anura Gunawardhana, stated that statements still had to be recorded from several more individuals in connection with the investigation into the incident.
President’s Counsel Kalinga Indratissa, appearing for suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, told court that his client strongly denies the allegations of serious sexual assault of a minor girl.
The President’s Counsel also alleged that medical professionals, lawyers, various other professionals, and ordinary members of society had already tried and delivered judgments on the case through social media.
Prison officials then presented a medical report relating to suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
The report had been forwarded by the Welikada Remand Prison Authority through Anuradhapura Prison Authority Prasad Prematilaka.
According to prison officials, the suspect was not in good enough health to be transported over a long distance.
They also stated that he needed to undergo several special medical examinations, making it impossible to produce him before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court on May 12.
After considering the submissions made by all parties, the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate stated that he was unable to issue an order further remanding suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero at that moment.
He therefore refused to issue such an order.
Accordingly, the case was ordered to be recalled before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court on the upcoming Friday, the 15th.
Officers appearing on behalf of the complaint included Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardhana of the Nittambuwa Police Station, Anuradhapura Chief Police Investigator R.M. Jayaweera, and the Case Operations Officer of the Anuradhapura Police Children and Women’s Bureau, Sub-Inspector A.C. Dayananda.
Appearing for suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero were President’s Counsel Kalinga Indratissa, together with lawyers Hemantha Gamage, Kujan Banagoda, Shamminda Herath, Janith Mahasen, and Himansa Samaradiwakara.
Approximately 30 lawyers from Anuradhapura also appeared on behalf of suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
They included Senior Lawyers Ranjith Rajakaruna, Chandana Weerakoon, Ariyaratna Wickramaarachchi, Danushka Dahampath, Kalinga Ravindra, Madara Wijesinghe, and Jalalath Abeyasinghe.
When the case was called, around 30 lawyers from Anuradhapura remained in open court.
However, seven lawyers, including Senior Lawyer Swarnamali Anuradhanayake and lawyers Sanjaya Rathnayake and Sunanda Thennakoon, did not appear for suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.
Suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero was arrested by Nittambuwa Police on the night of the 8th at a private hospital in Colombo.
The arrest followed an order issued by Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne to arrest the suspect immediately and produce him before court.
The Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate had issued that order after considering submissions made by lawyer Sajivani Abeykoon, Director of Legal Enforcement of the National Child Protection Authority.
The order was made when the case bearing number 22424/2026 B was called before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court on the advice of the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority, retired High Court Judge Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe.
Do you need support?
Are you also a victim of sexual abuse? Or have you observed a minor being subjected to sexual abuse?
Call the numbers below for assistance.
National Child Protection Authority
1929, Sri Lanka Child Support Service
Police Children and Women’s Bureau
109, Emergency Call Number
011-2444444, Telephone Number
Ministry of Women and Child Affairs
1938, Child Support Service
