Pallegama Hemarathana Arrested in Alleged Child S*x Abuse Case at Sri Lankan Temple
Sri Lankan authorities on Saturday arrested senior Buddhist monk Pallegama Hemarathana over allegations of child s*x abuse involving an 11-year-old girl, in what is being described as one of the country’s highest-profile cases involving clergy.
Sri Lankan authorities on Saturday arrested senior Buddhist monk Pallegama Hemarathana over allegations of child s*x abuse involving an 11-year-old girl, in what is being described as one of the country’s highest-profile cases involving clergy.
The 71-year-old monk was taken into custody at a private hospital in Colombo, where he had reportedly sought medical treatment amid an ongoing police investigation. Authorities said the alleged abuse took place in 2022 at a highly revered Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura, around 200 kilometres north of the capital.
Police confirmed that the monk will soon be produced before a magistrate for further legal proceedings. Officials also arrested the victim’s mother on allegations of aiding and abetting the accused monk. French Court Sentences Buddhist Monk to 12 Years for Rapes.
The arrest has shocked many in Sri Lanka because Hemarathana is considered one of the country’s most influential Buddhist religious figures. He serves as the chief custodian of a sacred tree believed to have originated from a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago in India.
In addition, the monk oversees eight major temples located along an important Buddhist pilgrimage route visited by thousands of devotees every year. Thai Monk Sentenced for Raping 13-Year-Old He Impregnated.
The latest development came just a day after a local court in Anuradhapura imposed a foreign travel ban on the monk as investigations intensified.
Sri Lanka has witnessed several cases involving allegations of abuse by members of the clergy in recent years. However, officials and local media say this is the most senior Buddhist monk to face accusations of this nature.
The case has triggered widespread attention across the country due to the monk’s religious stature and the sensitivity surrounding one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist sites. Authorities have not yet disclosed additional details about the investigation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2026 12:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
