A 25‑year‑old monk, serving at a temple in Bahirawakanda, has been arrested by the Kandy Police in connection with the sexual abuse of a 15‑year‑old girl, the Police said. 

According to the Police, the suspect, who is the brother of the girl’s father, was taken into custody on May 20 following investigations into the incident.

Police further arrested a 29‑year‑old woman from Bahirawakanda the same day for aiding and abetting the crime.

Both suspects were produced before the Kandy Magistrate’s Court on May 21. 

The monk has been remanded until June 1, while the female suspect was released on two sureties of Rs. 200,000 each.

The Kandy Police is conducting further investigations into the case. (Newswire)

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A 21‑year‑old Moulavi residing in Eragama has been arrested in connection with the serious sexual abuse of a 14‑year‑old girl, Police said. 

According to the Police, the Moulavi, the main suspect in the incident, had fled the area, but later surrendered to the Ampara Magistrate’s Court through a lawyer on May 20. 

He was, thereafter, remanded until 03 June 2026.

Another suspect, also a 21-year-old resident of Eragama who had aided the main suspect, was first arrested in connection with the incident and produced before the Ampara Magistrate’s Court on May 09.

After initially being remanded until May 20, he was later further remanded until June 03.

The Eragama Police is conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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National Organizer of Sarvajana Balaya and former minister Dilum Amunugama has come under severe criticism on social media following remarks he made while speaking on the arrest and detention of an Atamasthanadhipathi Thera.

Speaking at a media briefing, Amunugama claimed that, according to information received by the party, the arrest had been made based on a statement by a sex worker.

“As we heard, the Atamasthanadhipathi Thera has been arrested based on the statement made by a prostitute,” he said.

Social media users questioned Amunugama’s statement, pointing out that reports linked to the matter involve a 15-year-old child and raising concerns over the language used by the former minister.

Several users questioned how a minor could be described in such terms, with many arguing that public figures should exercise greater responsibility and sensitivity when referring to children, particularly in cases involving serious allegations.

The remarks triggered criticism online, with users accusing Amunugama of making an inappropriate and insensitive characterization. (Newswire)

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Tourist Police in Unawatuna on Tuesday (12) arrested a 38‑year‑old employee of an Ayurvedic massage centre over allegations of sexually abusing an Australian woman during treatment.

The suspect, employed as a massage therapist at the centre in the Unawatuna area, is accused of having sexually abused the tourist on May 6 while administering therapy. 

Following a complaint lodged with the Tourist Police Division yesterday, officers conducted an investigation and took the suspect into custody.

The arrested individual is scheduled to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Residents and estate workers staged a large protest outside Dickoya Hospital yesterday following allegations that three hospital employees had sexually abused the body of a young woman inside the mortuary.

The demonstration was triggered by claims that three minor staff members had allegedly entered the mortuary at night and abused the corpse of a woman who reportedly died by suicide last week. 

Protesters also raised suspicions over the circumstances of the incident, pointing out that the three staff members were granted leave on the same day the body was released.

They further alleged that CCTV footage showed three individuals entering the mortuary during the relevant period. 

Expressing a lack of confidence in the hospital’s internal administrative processes, protesters insisted that an internal inquiry alone would not be sufficient.

As tensions escalated, police were deployed to the area. Subsequent discussions were held between hospital management, including the Medical Superintendent, police officials, and representatives of the protesters.

Authorities assured that a formal investigation would be conducted. While the hospital had initially commenced an internal inquiry, officials agreed that the matter would be handed over to the police to ensure a comprehensive criminal investigation. (Newswire)

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A teacher from a school in Moratuwa, who was arrested for sexually abusing a 14-year-old  student, has been remanded.

The Moratuwa Magistrate today (18) ordered that the teacher be remanded until December 1.

However, the school principal, who was arrested for allegedly concealing the incident, was released on two sureties of Rs. 100,000 each.

The teacher and the principal are aged 58 and 59, are residents of Baduraliya and Piliyandala.

According to the Police, several more complaints have also been filed against the teacher. (Newswire)

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The alleged sexual abuse of three students of a leading boys’ school in Colombo was raised in Parliament by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today.

Addressing the Parliament, MP Sajith Premadasa said that the victims had been sexually abused by a security officer attached to the school on October 04.

He further said that two teachers who had attempted to draw the attention of the principal to the matter had been threatened by the latter. 

“Per information received as of now, the school principal and teachers have not taken any measures concerning the affected children. The victims have not been subjected to a medical examination. No action has been taken against the security firm or the security officer in question,” he said. 

MP Premadasa revealed that when attempting to file a complaint, parents have been told that the children would have to be taken to the courts and the case would take several years. 

Stating that there is a plan to conduct a protest before the school against the incident, the Opposition Leader called on the government to conduct a comprehensive probe into the matter.  

Responding to the Opposition Leader, Government Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Education Ministry has already commenced an investigation into the incident. 

Minister Jayatissa further said that the Police have also launched an investigation into the matter. 

“The government will take stringent measures against any incident causing bodily or mental abuse to children. Not only through legal means, but inter-ministerial measures are also being implemented for the protection of children. Only through a severe response from the authorities could such incidents be prevented in the future,” Minister Nalinda Jayatissa added. (Newswire)

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A father of one has been sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing a 03-year-old child. 

It is reported that the 46-year-old man was sentenced after being found guilty of having sexually molested the child, who was his relative. 

The Homagama Magistrate’s Court had issued the verdict and had also imposed a fine on the suspect. 

The man is convicted of having lured the child under the pretext of riding a bicycle, sexually molesting the child near a well, and threatening to murder her if she disclosed the incident to her parents. (Newswire)

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A 68-year-old man has been sentenced to 60 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty on three counts of sexual abuse of a preschool-aged child living next door.

The sentence issued by Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida includes 20 years of imprisonment for each charge, to be served consecutively. 

In addition, the court ordered the accused to pay a fine of Rs. 30,000 and compensation of Rs. 1 million to the victim, warning that failure to pay would result in an additional two years of imprisonment.

The court heard that the accused had lured the girl into his home on multiple occasions over two months, taking advantage of times when her parents were away from home. 

Following a lengthy trial, the judge ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

The accused, who was 55 at the time of the offences, was identified as a close relative of the victim and the father of two adult daughters. (Newswire)

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Retracting its previous news report claiming that five members of the under-19 Rugby Team of a Colombo School were arrested over an incident of sexual abuse, the state newspaper, Dinamina, today published a correction report stating that only an inquiry was underway.

The Dinamina newspaper reported this week that the students had been arrested by the Special Police Investigation Unit of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) based on a complaint filed by the affected 15-year-old victim. 

The report further said that the boy had been sexually abused by his fellow teammates during a sports camp in the North between 12- 24 April and that five members of the Rugby team, including the captain and vice captain, had been arrested. 

However, in a correction report published today, the Dinamina newspaper said that the National Child Protection Authority has clarified that the students had not been arrested, as previously reported.

The news report said that the NCPA informed that following investigations conducted by its Special Police Investigation Unit, the students had been summoned to record statements over the incident.

The NCPA further said that its Special Police Investigation Unit had presented facts before the court and is continuing investigations into the accused group. (Newswire)

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Six members of the Under-19 Rugby team of a Colombo school, including the captain and vice captain, have been arrested over the alleged sexual abuse of a fellow team member, it was reported. 

According to the state newspaper, Dinamina, the group was arrested by the Special Police Investigation Unit of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). 

The group is accused of having sexually abused a 15-year-old boy between 12-24 April during a sports camp in the North. 

An investigation had been launched into the incident following a complaint filed at the NCPA. 

The investigations had led to the arrest of the under-19 Rugby team members. (Newswire)

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A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing a minor, it was reported.

The Colombo High Court had issued the sentence after finding the man guilty of sexually abusing a 09-year-old girl. 

The verdict was issued by Colombo High Court judge Navaratne Marasinghe. (Newswire)

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A mathematics teacher from a school in Aralaganwila has been arrested over allegations of sexually abusing eight Grade 10 school girls, it was reported.

According to the Aralaganwila Police, the teacher, who is attached to a school in the Aralaganwila Education Division within the Dimbulagala Education Zone, was arrested today.

His arrest follows complaints from parents of the affected children, while investigations have found that the suspect had sexually molested the children on multiple occassions. 

Further investigations are underway into the matter. (Newswire)

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A 50-year-old father of one has been sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually molesting an 11-year-old child during the Vesak festival in Colombo in 2015.

The Colombo High Court today sentenced the man and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on the suspect, while he was also ordered to pay a compensation of Rs. 200,000 to the victim.

The court warned that in the event the suspect fails to pay the fine and compensation, he will be sentenced to another 18 months.

The victim had been sexually molested by the suspect after having visited the Vesak Zone in Colombo along with his parents in May 2015.

The suspect is accused of luring the victim into a stall under the pretext of making a Vesak lantern, where he had sexually abused the underage child. (Newswire)  

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The Colombo High Court sentenced a Buddhist monk to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing an underaged monk, it was reported. 

According to the Daily News, the court further imposed a fine of Rs. 4500 and ordered the accused to pay a compensation of Rs. 100,000 to the victim.

The judgement was issued by Colombo High Court Judge Mahesh Weeraman yesterday. (Newswire)

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Two suspects wanted in connection to breaking into houses and sexually molesting women, causing fear in several areas, have been apprehended.

Police investigations have found that the two suspects had sexually abused and murdered an elderly woman. 

Initial reports had come of the suspects sexually abusing women and robbing houses in the Dompe, Weliweriya, and Malwathu Hiripitiya areas.

Following a six-day operation, Officials from the Malwathu Hiripitiya Police arrested the two suspects while fleeing after stealing from an abandoned house in the area.

The Police had seized several weapons used to carry out the robberies, while the suspects had confessed to robbing in the Avissawella, Kirella and Eheliyagoda areas as well.

Investigations have found that a 21-year-old youth addicted to drugs had carried out the robberies along with his uncle.

The Police were also able to recover several stolen items, including mobile phones and jewellery, following the interrogation of the suspect.

Briefing the media on the case, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the two suspects are reported to have selected houses on large lands, with mostly only one male residing. 

He further said the suspects had sexually molested women within the premises of the house, apart from stealing.

DIG Nihal Thalduwa said these suspects are found to have engaged in such actions in several areas across the country. (Newswire)

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A school teacher was arrested in Maharashtra’s Akola district on charges of molestation of six girls and showing them obscene videos, police said on Wednesday.

A case was registered on Tuesday against Pramod Manohar Sardar, a 47-year-old government school teacher, in Maharashtra‘s Akola district after a few girl students alleged that he had been harassing them by showing them obscene videos.

The development came amid protests over the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls at a kindergarten school in Badlapur town in Maharashtra’s Thane district.

The teacher, working at the Zilla Parishad school at Kazikhed, has been arrested after being detained for questioning.

What FIR said

As per the FIR registered at Ural police station, six girl students complained that the teacher had been showing them obscene videos for the past four months, news agency PTI reported an official as saying. Further investigation was underway, the police official added.

The crime came to light when the girl students called the toll-free number of the Child Welfare Committee. Members of the Child Welfare Committee visited the school on Tuesday morning and spoke to some of the girls, following which the case was registered. Asha Mirge, a former member of the State Women’s Commission, demanded strict action against the teacher.

Superintendent of police Akolka Bachchan Singh told news agency ANI that the Akola Police received a complaint of molestation of six school girls by Pramod Manohar Sardar. Police immediately arrested the accused teacher and recorded the statements of the victim girls.

“Cases under sections 74 and 75 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act were registered,” SP Singh added.

Further investigation into the case is underway, he said.

Principal of the school Ravindra Samdur said, “There was a programme at the school yesterday… After the programme was over the teacher went to meet the students of Class 7-8. Some 4-5 girls said they were harassed, then we came to know about this, until then we were not aware of any such thing .”

Nationwide protest over Kolkata doctor’s rape, murder

The incident comes amid nationwide protests over the alleged rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

The assault of a doctor has sent shockwaves across the country.

Doctors have protested in many states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, demanding justice and better security laws for healthcare professionals.

The case has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation from the state police following an order from the Calcutta High Court. (Hindustan Times)

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Seventeen schoolboys have been apprehended on charges of having allegedly sexually abused and gang-raped a Grade 11 schoolgirl in Thanamalvila over the course of the last one year, it was reported. 

According to Ada Derana, a woman has also been arrested alongside the schoolboys in connection to the incident. 

The mother of the schoolgirl has also accused a doctor at the Hambantota Hospital of having caused fear in the child, resulting in her attempting suicide.

Preliminary Police investigations have revealed that the victim had been romantically involved with a boy from her school. The boy is reported to have deceived her and taken her to a friend’s house, where he had allegedly sexually abused her for the first time. 

The Police said that a group of schoolboys who were at the house had thereafter forcefully made her consume alcohol and then sexually abused her, while they had also videoed the incident.

The schoolboys had threatened the victim with the video and had gang-raped her on seven occasions during the course of last year (2023). The Police said that 17 schoolboys have been found to be connected to the sexual abuse of the victim.

Investigations had revealed that the victim had been raped on multiple occasions and recorded the act on video. The most recent incident of sexual abuse had occurred at Kirindhi Oya last week, where seven schoolboys had sexually molested the girl and recorded the incident. 

The principal of the school in question had also found out about this incident and had made inquiries from the victim and the boys involved. 

However, the school authorities had decided to conceal the incident taking into consideration the school’s reputation. It had also been reported that the son of a prominent tuition master and a female teacher of the school had been involved in the abuse of the girl, prompting school authorities to conceal the matter. 

However, the matter had come to light after the Thanamalvila Police launched an inquiry based on a tip-off and the victim had been questioned. 

It was found that the schoolboys had first raped the girl, after forcefully making the victim consume alcohol. Thereafter on numerous occasions, schoolboys from the group had abused and gang-raped the girl at toilets and sports restrooms when they were attending sports matches at other schools. The girl had also been abused at the homes of other students.

After obtaining statements from the school principal who had concealed the incident, the Police arrested 17 schoolboys and a woman who had aided them. The suspects are expected to be produced before the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court. 

Meanwhile, the mother of the child has informed the Police that while being admitted for a medical examination at the Hambantota Hospital, a doctor at the hospital had caused fear in the child, making her attempt suicide.

The victim’s mother has filed a complaint with the Hambantota Police and the Police Children & Women Bureau in this regard. (Newswire)

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A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for having sexually abused a female minor in Maharagama, it was reported. 

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, the schoolboy has been arrested on charges of serious sexual abuse of the 14-year-old girl. 

The Maharagama Police said the suspect and victim were students of prominent schools in Maharagama and had been romantically involved over the last year.

The Police further said that the two had also spent time together on the way to school or tuition class.

Investigations have revealed that the girl had invited the boy to her residence, while alone at home, during which he is alleged to have sexually abused her. (NewsWire)

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The Principal of a school in Monaragala has been arrested on allegations of sexually abusing a woman, it was reported.

The suspect was arrested by the Dhombagahawela Police on Sunday (Mar 03). 

It is reported that the Principal had attempted to sexually abuse the woman who was working in the school canteen.

The arrested school principal is expected to be produced before the Monaragala Magistrate’s Court today. 

The Dhombagahawela Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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