DNA test ordered for Pallegama Hemarathana Thero after police report says DNA alleles were found on clothing linked to child abuse case.
A DNA test has been ordered in the child abuse case involving former Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, with court directing the suspect monk to provide a blood sample for analysis.
Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne on Friday (June 12) ordered Pallegama Hemarathana Thero to appear before the Government Analyst’s Department on June 16 and provide his blood sample to the Government Analyst.
The order was issued for the purpose of conducting a DNA test connected to the ongoing investigation.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered the Government Analyst to submit the DNA test report to court after the suspect monk provides his blood sample and the relevant analysis is completed.
The order was made after the court considered submissions presented by the Nittambuwa Police through a further report.
Police Submit Further Report
Presenting the further report, the Nittambuwa Police informed court that clothing suspected to be stained with blood, allegedly found hidden and buried by the victim girl, had been forwarded to the Government Analyst on May 4, 2026.
The items were sent in accordance with a previous court order for DNA testing.
Police told court that the Government Analyst had already carried out a DNA test on the clothing, which had been named as case productions.
According to the police, the Government Analyst’s report revealed that “DNA alleles were present” on the victim girl’s clothing.
On that basis, police submitted that the suspect monk’s blood sample was required for comparison with the DNA alleles found on the clothing.
Police therefore requested court to order Pallegama Hemarathana Thero to provide his blood sample to the Government Analyst.
The Nittambuwa Police also requested that the Government Analyst be ordered to submit the report of the DNA test to court after determining whether the suspect monk’s blood sample matches the DNA alleles found on the victim girl’s clothing.
Blood Sample To Be Given On June 16
After considering the submissions, Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne ordered the suspect, Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, to appear before the Government Analyst’s Department on the 16th of this month.
He was directed to provide his blood sample to the Government Analyst for the DNA test connected to the case.
