Police have taken steps to arrest the Anuradhapura Atamasthanadhipathi, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, over allegations linked to the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl, according to a statement issued by the Police Media Division.
In a statement issued today, Police said the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate had also imposed a foreign travel ban on the monk and directed immigration authorities to prevent him from leaving the country.
The development comes after the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) moved court alleging delays in the arrest of the suspect despite repeated requests to law enforcement authorities.
According to Police, the investigation began after a complaint was lodged with the Nittambuwa Police on March 06, 2026 alleging that a minor girl had been abducted and detained. An initial suspect was arrested and produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court, while the victim was placed under protection at a child care centre in Ragama.
During subsequent investigations, the girl had reportedly disclosed details relating to an earlier incident of sexual abuse. Police said investigations were then launched under the supervision of senior officers in the Gampaha Division by the Nittambuwa Police and the Women and Children’s Bureau.
Police investigators later carried out inspections at the location where the alleged abuse first took place and submitted forensic and other evidence before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.
On May 08, Police submitted a further report to court seeking permission to record video evidence from the victim through the National Child Protection Authority.
Police said the court named Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera and the girl’s mother as suspects in the case, while issuing an order preventing the monk from travelling overseas.
The mother of the 15-year-old girl was arrested today on allegations of aiding and abetting the offence and allegedly selling the child for money. She was remanded until May 15 after being produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.
According to reports, the hearing was held in the Magistrate’s chambers and attended by NCPA Chairperson, retired High Court Judge Inoka Ranasinghe, Law Enforcement Unit Director Sajeevani Abeyratne, and Assistant Director Attorney-at-Law Hansi Halangoda.
Further investigations are being conducted by the Nittambuwa Police Women and Children’s Bureau under the supervision of the Police and the NCPA. (Newswire)
