Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate orders immediate arrest of Atamasthanadhipathi monk Pallegama Hemarathana Thero and victim’s mother over sexual abuse of 15-year-old girl.
Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasidu Wickramaratne today (08) ordered the Nittambuwa Police to immediately arrest and produce before court the Atamasthanadhipathi (Chief Custodian of the Eight Sacred Sites) of Anuradhapura, Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, and the mother of the victim, in connection with the serious sexual abuse of a 15 year old minor girl. The court also issued an order to the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to immediately prevent Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who has been named as a suspect in the incident, from leaving the country.
Following the directive of the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), retired High Court Judge Inoka Ranasinghe, the Authority’s Director of Law Enforcement, Attorney at Law Sajeevani Abeyrathne, appeared before court and secured these orders. The court noted that despite several written and verbal inquiries as to why the suspect monk had not been arrested, the police had not responded properly. Due to the slow nature of police investigations, the Authority decided to call this case through a motion to ensure justice for the victim.
After considering the facts presented, the Magistrate authorized the Nittambuwa Police to name the Atamasthanadhipathi monk and the victim’s mother as suspects in this crime. Accordingly, the police were ordered to arrest both of them immediately and produce them before court. Investigations have also been conducted regarding two other suspects in connection with this incident, and the case is being heard under B Report No. 22424/2026.
