Outrage as senior Sinhala Buddhist monk accused of raping schoolgirl released on bail

A senior Sinhala Buddhist monk accused of raping and sexually abusing a minor girl over a period of several years has been released on bail, despite mounting scrutiny over the handling of the investigation and allegations of delays by Sri Lankan police in taking action.

The Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered the release of  Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, the chief prelate of Anuradhapura’s eight sacred Buddhist sites, on two personal sureties of Rs. 5 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 100,000. The court also imposed a foreign travel ban and warned that the bail order would be revoked if witnesses were influenced or bail conditions violated.

The monk had been remanded after his arrest by the Gampaha Division Police Children and Women’s Bureau and was produced before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court. During his period in remand custody, he received treatment at Colombo National Hospital before being transferred to the prison hospital.

Sri Lankan police have filed charges against the monk under provisions of Sri Lanka’s Penal Code relating to the rape and grave sexual abuse of a minor. The victim’s mother is accused of knowingly facilitating the abuse of her daughter in exchange for money and faces charges linked to human trafficking and aiding the alleged offences. The court rejected an application to release her on bail.

According to information presented before court, investigators have completed their inquiries and forwarded extracts of the investigation to the Attorney General for legal advice. The court also ordered state and major private banks to provide detailed reports on accounts held in the name of the victim’s mother, while telecommunications providers were directed to submit analysis reports relating to telephone numbers allegedly linked to the suspect and the child.

The case has attracted public attention after reports emerged that authorities delayed arresting the monk despite obtaining evidence from the victim. According to The Examiner, the child, now aged 14, allegedly endured sexual abuse for more than three years before the suspect was taken into custody.

“The case first came to the police’s attention when the mother complained that the child was missing to the Nittambuwa police. When the police found the child they questioned her. The Judicial Medical Officer also examined her by April 10. But Hemarathana, the chief prelate, or Atamasthana Adipathi, was only arrested on May 8,” The Examiner reported.

The report further noted that police waited 28 days after recording the child’s statement before arresting the monk, raising questions over the speed and effectiveness of the investigation in a case involving allegations of child sexual abuse.

Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority has stated that it is monitoring proceedings to ensure the rights of the minor victim are protected and that due legal process is followed.

The controversy also sparked protests in the Tamil homeland this week.

A demonstration organised by the North-East Women’s Collective was held behind the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna, with protesters demanding justice for the schoolgirl allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by the Buddhist monk in Anuradhapura.

Demonstrators condemned the decision to release the monk on bail and called for a transparent investigation and accountability.

Organisers of the protest stated that they would submit a written petition to Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General, the Minister of Women’s Affairs and the Inspector General of Police, demanding urgent intervention and justice for the victim.

The protest further highlighted growing concerns among women’s organisations and rights activists regarding institutional protection afforded to powerful Buddhist clergy accused of serious criminal offences, as well as broader concerns surrounding impunity and delays in the Sri Lankan justice system.