Buddhist monk arrested over alleged rape of teen in Sri Lanka
Police said the 71-year-old monk was detained after a child protection complaint, and the victim’s mother was also arrested.
- On Friday night, police arrested Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, at a private hospital in Colombo following an arrest warrant issued by an Anuradhapura magistrate's court.
- Police spokesperson Wootler confirmed authorities initiated the probe after a complaint registered in March, alleging abuse of a 15-year-old victim at a venerated temple in Anuradhapura.
- Hemarathana serves as chief custodian of a sacred Bodhi tree sapling from India and leads eight venerated temples on a key Buddhist pilgrim route, making this arrest unprecedented.
- This arrest involves the most senior monk accused of such a crime in Sri Lanka; police stated Saturday the monk will soon appear before a judge for further action.
- The victim's mother was also arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting, while a local court in Anuradhapura imposed a foreign travel ban on the monk prior to Friday's arrest.
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35 Articles
Arrests of monks are rare in Sri Lanka.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Senior Buddhist monk arrested over alleged rape of girl in Sri Lanka
Pallegama Hemarathana arrested from hospital for allegedly abusing a minor in 2022
One of Sri Lanka's highest-ranking Buddhist monks was arrested and placed in protective custody on charges of rape and sexual violence against a 15-year-old girl...
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A top Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl. Although he had previously been named in the case, he was only arrested at the request of the Child Protection Service. Monk Pallegama Hemarathana Thero is the custodian of eight holy sites in Sri Lanka. He was in a private hospital in Colombo when he was arrested. He is being treated at the prison hospital. His first hearing is scheduled for May 12. Th…
One of the highest-ranking Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka has been arrested on suspicion of raping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Pallegama Hemarathana was apprehended at the insistence of Child Protective Services, which had previously criticized the police for failing to arrest him despite him being a suspect in the case. The man was arrested two days ago. According to local media, this took place at a private clinic where he was bei…
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